Cockpit Speaker Mounting Location

Pat · Sep 30, 2014

that is basically where I have our cockpit speakers. it is a different boat but that location at the stern sounds great... my depth allowance is 5 inches on the O'Day..the fiberglass at the stern is slightly canted in..Pat

centerline · Sep 30, 2014

hillzz22 said:
I'm looking to flush mount a pair of 6.5" speakers somewhere in the cockpit and am thinking that the location discussed in post #6 of this thread and shown in the attached picture, at the stern, would be pretty ideal. My question to any who have mounted in this location is: how much space (i.e. depth) is there here, for a flush mounted speaker? For reference, the mounting depth for the speakers is 2.25 inches. Also, I'm assuming that I can drop the wiring straight down and access it below to run over to my head unit in the cabin? Thanks in advance for any help, I want to be ABSOLUTELY certain before I go drilling anything..

I think the stern mounted speakers are a better idea than bulkhead mounted.... foot well mounted (sides) may be an option as well... both options keep the sound where you want it a bit better... bulkhead mounted let's some escape rearward.... and if someone leans against the bulkhead while cruising/sunning/lounging, the speaker gets covered... so it has to be turned up.

As much as I like my music Im sure others don't like listening to it any more than I like having to listen to theirs....

But more importent than location is the speakers themselves.... quality built outdoor weatherproof or waterproof speakers are mandatory.
Most modern speakers have a water resistant cone but not all of them... and water resistant is different from weather/water proof.....

The Garbone · Sep 30, 2014

We put ours at the stern as well. Well away from the compass on the bulkhead.

You can see them here with green painters tape. Although only 4" marine speakers they work great. We fed the wire back along the port side thru the sail locker and and over the rear bulkhead of said locker. If you get down in there sail locker you can see some gaps to feed the wire thru with no drilling required.

There is tons of clearance behind and the fiberglass is only about 1/8" thick at this location. We used a 4" drill mounted hole saw.

Part of the reason we put them on the sides and not aft is when lounging at anchor or underway we did not want out backs against the speakers. We tried to place them were this was least likely to happen.

Kingjim91 · Sep 30, 2014

Hillzz,
The spacing back there is tight. I dumbly cut the holes without even thinking about the depth. I had to make a 3/4" spacer ring to get a fit. There's a little more room toward the middle, rather than toward the sides. Suggest you try to measure the space before you cut.
I also found out the hard way that the wiring for the stern light is embedded in the fiberglass across that area, on the port side. I have an '82.

Anonymous 121765 · Oct 1, 2014

Hill,

I almost mounted flush speakers once but ,decided to do something different.
This may sound funny at first, but I hate making unnecessary holes in fiberglas.

On my 1980 C30, I ran wiring to both of my coming boxes & brought them out up high in the rear side of the box. I then got two all-weather shelf speakers with housings approx. 4 1/2" H x 7" L x 4 1/2" D., that just fit in the opening. I simply connect my two wires to the spring connections on the speaker rear & leave them in the coming box when sailing. I keep them inside the boat when done sailing.

One advantage I've found is the bass resonance & fullness of sound I get. It seems to amplify the sound instead of playing in moving air.

It has worked fine for me & no cutouts or, having to changeout speakers every several years hoping the mounting hole patterns are the same.

CR

jrowan · Oct 2, 2014

I second what Capt. Ron said, as I did the same thing! West Marine sells the self contained all weather speakers that are 4 inches in diameter & fit exactly into the cockpit comings. As Ron stated, the only small hole you have to drill is about 1/8" inch width to run the speaker wire from the cabin mounted head unit to the speakers. This is by far the least invasive method & sounds the best too, & also shields the speakers from the elements when not in use.

Picflight · Oct 2, 2014

I would also refrain from cutting unnecessary holes in fiberglass.

Doug4bass · Oct 2, 2014

In my 270 I had the small 4" speakers in the coaming ........sounded ok.....but I wasnt about to cut 6" holes in the cockpit. Anywhere.
I also had a sub below which compensated.

Anonymous 121765 · Oct 3, 2014

Looks as if JR, Pic & Doug feel the same about coming box speakers & making cutouts. Catalina was big on embedding wiring in headliners & rear cockpit areas. Talk about DUMB. It seems boat construction is more about packaging than allowing access for maintenance & modifications.

My 2-way speakers are about 13 years old. Why? Because I don't leave them outside.
There have also been other threads for cockpit mounted electronics. I posted a few times that my GPS, Fishfinder & AP controller are take-home items & fit nicely In my electronics carry bag. The Garmin GPS & Fishfinder are both 7 years old & my Autohelm AP is twenty years old & still going strong. Gee, I wonder why that is? And, unlike some boat neighbors, nobody has stolen my electronics so far.

CR

woodster · Oct 3, 2014

you may want to look at the exciter speakers that phil sailz recommends in other threads...seems like a viable option ...he is in the sound business and knows a lot about theses things

Anonymous 121765 · Oct 3, 2014

I forgot to mention another advantage I find with my coming box speakers. Because the are housing-enclosed shelf speakers & not hard attached, I can take them out & place them on the seats or just put them out on my deck & direct them toward the bow.

This is useful for sound direction when at anchor or underway for folks sitting near the bow.

CR

Sailm8 · Oct 3, 2014

I too hate cutting holes and running wires. I just use a boombox with batteries and an ipod port. I'm a news junkie and need to listen as much as I can. Don't like to disturb others either and it is easy to take down below. I would rather have no music than disturb a quiet anchorage with a thumping subwoofer. I don't think people who have these big bass thumpers realize how well water transfers the sound.

Anonymous 121765 · Oct 3, 2014

Sail,

Speaking about sound, I have found some interesting interactions between marine mammals & types of music.

I have found that dolphins like progressive Jazz & Classical music. It seems to bring them & their curiosity alongside. Maybe our hull shape reminds them of a big upside-down dolphin. They can hear & feel the vibrations thru the hull. If you can catch a pod after their morning, afternoon or dinner feeding, that's when they act alot like dogs.

They seem to become playful & curious. I always try to get close to hull speed so they can ride my bow wave. I have people sit at the bow legs over the side & they get to watch a dolphin show. Many take great pics & videos. Sometimes this can last for 15 minutes before they get bored & swim away. We get the occasional Atlantic Pilot Whales & their behavior is similar.

Dolphins don't like too loud or too much energized Rock music but, they do prefer Jazz & Classical. I guess because it's more melodic. They do however, not mind a power boat if throwing a stern wake they can also ride. They have charters in my area for just this.

Talk about going off on a tangent huh?

CR

Doug4bass · Oct 3, 2014

Sailm8 said:
I too hate cutting holes and running wires. I just use a boombox with batteries and an ipod port. I'm a news junkie and need to listen as much as I can. Don't like to disturb others either and it is easy to take down below. I would rather have no music than disturb a quiet anchorage with a thumping subwoofer. I don't think people who have these big bass thumpers realize how well water transfers the sound.

The subs are for TONE.....over the full sound spectrum......not thumping. If there is no bass, it ain't worth listening to.

rbjenterprises · Oct 3, 2014

I have 2 big Bose speakers that the po installed in the cockpit. Around 6" each. They are free to anybody who can come with an attractive way to cover the holes.

nashuasteve · Oct 8, 2014

Ok folks, this was going to be my project for the weekend, now I am really confused as to what to do. I am going to have to put more thought into this then I thought.
Thanks for all the comments

nashuasteve · Oct 8, 2014

OOPs forgot the question. I purchased a 4 speaker marine stero system from Bass Pro Shops and what I was thinking about was some kind of a switch that would allow me to run speakers in the cabin and the cockpit. Then I would be able to select which set I wanted to use. Any ideas?

Kingjim91 · Oct 8, 2014

nashuasteve said:
OOPs forgot the question. I purchased a 4 speaker marine stero system from Bass Pro Shops and what I was thinking about was some kind of a switch that would allow me to run speakers in the cabin and the cockpit. Then I would be able to select which set I wanted to use. Any ideas?

My setup is with 4 speakers inside, left and right, front and rear, and 2 speakers in the cockpit. I have the rear speakers on an A/B switch, so I can switch the output to cabin or cockpit. If you bought a 4 speaker system, then your receiver probably has front and rear outputs, and you could do the same with 2 more speakers.
Or with just the 4 speakers, you could run the front channels inside, and the rear channels outside. Then you could control the fade to each from your receiver. Check Amazon.com for some A/B switch options.

By the way the rest of my entertainment system includes a 22" AC/DC LCD TV with built-in DVD, mounted on the starboard side. The audio runs through the stereo. I know there are some differing opinions on this next point, but I have the "front" channels on starboard, and the "rear" on port.

Cockpit Speaker Mounting Location

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