Car Stereo

[Capt. Kermie]

Getting a "Marine" radio is a good idea if you put it outside. If you put the radio in the cabin of the boat a regular automotive radio is just fine. The radio inside of the cabin is not getting exposed to anything that it doesn't get exposed to inside of a car.

I can't say I agree with that assumption. The air around the marina is much saltier than the air a few miles inland. I have seen cars rust out in a very short time when parked too close to the ocean, yet they can remain rust free for many years if kept in drier inland climates. I left my BoomBox on the boat one summer and it was shorted out from the salt air corrosion in one season. Why is it that boat parts are made from non-corroding materials like aluminum, 316 SS, wood, plastics, fiberglass etc. Marine grade radios come with superior wiring and plastc waterproof speakers. The coastal marinas are usually a corrosive salty air environment and that air easily finds its' way into your cabin. The inside of a car is not generally exposed to salty air for durations that the inside of a boat cabin is.:naughty:

As an aside I have seen the snaps and zippers on my jackets corrode in one summer left on the boat, yet they never corrode in the car or home.

 

[John]

WM sale

I see that West Marine is having a sale on stereos. Since somebody gave me a Jensen cd changer, I'm looking at their Jensens on sale - $50 off. However, several people mentioned getting one with a usb port. WM's ad doesn't mention this, so I assume these units don't have it. What say you - is the usb port that convenient (over being ipod ready) that I should pass on this?

 

[sailingdog]

Most of the ones that are iPod ready have an iPod dock connector, not a USB port. The USB port is usually for thumb drives and allows the stereo to play MP3 files stored on a thumb drive. Generally, it will not allow them to use the files off an iPod.

 

[John]

Most of the ones that are iPod ready have an iPod dock connector, not a USB port. The USB port is usually for thumb drives and allows the stereo to play MP3 files stored on a thumb drive. Generally, it will not allow them to use the files off an iPod.

So my question is whether you would get one that is ipod ready if it's a good deal, vs. getting one that takes a thumb drive.

 

[sailingdog]

I'd rather get an iPod ready one than one that uses thumb drives. Setting up play lists and such is much easier on an iPod than it is with a thumbdrive.

 

[windward54]

Or do what I did and dump the CD player. I purchased a Fusion Marine Ipod player. The face of the unit opens just like a CD player, but the opening takes an Ipod. Once closed, the Ipod is in a waterproof compartment, protected from the elements. All the Ipod controls are accessable on the face of the player. Only bad thing was West Marine has an exclusive on these.

http://www.fusioncaraudio.com/north...dio-2/stereo-units-15/msip500-56-product.aspx

 

[KD3PC]

jensen makes an ipod adapter cable that works with most of their newer rigs...if WM doesn't have it stop by a harley dealer, they carry jensen marine gear, I used my harley credit card bucks to buy a radio, ipod cable and two new speakers to do the boat.

dave

 

[John]

$$$$

Or do what I did and dump the CD player. I purchased a Fusion Marine Ipod player. The face of the unit opens just like a CD player, but the opening takes an Ipod. Once closed, the Ipod is in a waterproof compartment, protected from the elements. All the Ipod controls are accessable on the face of the player. Only bad thing was West Marine has an exclusive on these.

http://www.fusioncaraudio.com/north...dio-2/stereo-units-15/msip500-56-product.aspx

yes, except it's $689 vs. about $150 for a satellite-ready cd player/radio with an ipod connection. And, since somebody gave me a new cd changer....

 

[windward54]

yes, except it's $689 vs. about $150 for a satellite-ready cd player/radio with an ipod connection. And, since somebody gave me a new cd changer....

Nope, West Marine sells the unit for $349, and is a really great unit. That was about $125 more than the CD player I bought last, that lasted 2 1/2 years. The price you pulled off the website is the MSRP, which is no where near the real price. I admit I thought it was high priced at first, but after using it a year, I've come to think it is worth what I paid for it.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

I was looking at car stereos and planned on buying a non-marine one. I happened to be in WM last weekend and they had a 'Dual' marine stereo with an ipod jack and USB input, two speakers and remote control for $99. This seemed like too good of a deal to pass up. I don't have it fully installed yet, but I have hooked up power and the speakers and it works great!

 

[philwsailz]

There are two Sony models that are marine ready, and have the now-becoming-standard USB connection for connection of either iPod or a flash drive. The CDX-H910UI is the top-of-the-line model and is hermetically sealed when mounted and closed; so much so that you can hose it down.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665801240

The CDX-M60UI is a marine radio with the same USB/iPod interface. It is styled along the lines of a more traditional car stereo.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665801217

Both feature conformal-coated circuit boards for improved resistance to salt fog and spray. Both can be controlled by optional wired remotes. Hard wired remotes might be a pain, but they are the best for ensuring a solid reliable communication between the radio and the remote. The RMX-55M is a large backlit remote with a digital readout. It was designed to fit exactly into a standard 3" gage hole. The RMX-11M has no readout, but has all basic controls on it. It fits a standard 2" gage hole.

I do not work for Sony but do earn my living designing and selling Marine Audio systems. I use Sony and have had good luck with their product.

Here is a pic of my newly installed RMX-55M in the starboard cockpit coaming in my Catalina 22

 

[Stu Jackson]

The air around the marina is much saltier than the air a few miles inland....The coastal marinas are usually a corrosive salty air environment and that air easily finds its' way into your cabin. The inside of a car is not generally exposed to salty air for durations that the inside of a boat cabin is...As an aside I have seen the snaps and zippers on my jackets corrode in one summer left on the boat, yet they never corrode in the car or home.

We haven't found that to be the case. The answer is ventilation on the boat. Our old C25 had no dorades or vent fans and stuff did get zapped down below. Our boat now has both and we have NO rusting of anything down below, including zippers, stereos and one can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup from 1998!

Regular car stereos are just fine for boat use if you ventilate the boat properly.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

....and one can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup from 1998!

ewww.....

 

[Andy1237]

Ooooo Philwsailz, I like that wired remote! Nice.