Hunter 280 overhead panel stereo mount

[Cor280]

First I just bought a used 1996 Hunter 280 and am very excited to make it my own! Top of my list is the Stereo and speakers. The stereo is mounted under the Control Panel that is overhead, and the Speaker hang down pointing toward the Cockpit on either side. I am 6'4" and had head room issues on most boats. So far I have hit my head on the stereo or speaker every time on the boat. I think I am going to either remove or move all of it. Does anyone have an Pictures of stereo mounts in a Hunter 280 that is not overhead or some ideas? I know an alternative is to get a IPOD dock and strap it down. I kind of like that idea also but would need to find a good spot for that where I can hear it inside and out.

 

[Clark]

Ours is mounted below the overhead breaker panel and I sometimes scrape it with my noggin. Don't have the inclination to move it but I have seen pictures of the unit being mounted on top of the port side cabinet. From there, you can run wires to speakers at the corners of the vee berth. That is where I relocated my interior speakers (with new small box speakers). I had some 6" round speakers mounted below the settee P&S near the floor which I moved to the cockpit.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ken13559]

On my friend's 280, I mounted the stereo head unit at lower portion of the saloon cabinet/hanging locker at port side and the 6" speakers on the port and starboard seat compartments. If you get a pair of 4" Weather-proof speakers you can mount it on the small Instrument panel outside just above the companionway.

 

[Gypsy Wind]

Ideas

Here are some ideas I did on my 1996 280...

 

[Gypsy Wind]

Should have mentioned the Pioneer head unit is below the hanging locker door....works great.

 

[Cor280]

Thanks for the responses, below the hanging locker door seems to be a common place to put it. I am curious how you get the speaker wires from there to the Cockpit. I already have the hang down type speakers like Gypsy Wind's(hence the head banging). I like them under the Seats. I have seen others with the interior speakers where yours are but my 280 doesn't have the Shelves along the sides like that it must have been an option. Something could be built I guess. Lots to think about.

 

[Clark]

. . . but my 280 doesn't have the Shelves along the sides like that it must have been an option. Something could be built I guess. Lots to think about.

The teak trim and little cubby's at the V berth corner were not options. Mine is like yours - Hunter did them that way until about half-way thru the 1996 production run then switched to the teak trim and cubbys from then on.

As for building something for that spot; I've thought of that as well. Would be a pretty simple construction and easy wire access thru the cup holders there into the area below the settee's. As for the paneling and shelves; that would be a tougher job.

 

[Cor280]

Clark, where did you mount your round cockpit speakers?

 

[Clark]

There were two speakers installed in the fiberglass pedestal when we bought the boat; one facing port, the other facing starboard. It would have not been my first choice location but they were already there. The ones that were outside had deteriorated pretty badly so I removed those and tossed them; moved the ones in the cabin to the pedestal and bought two new small box speakers for the vberth. If I can find some pictures, I'll post them.

 

[Cor280]

There were two speakers installed in the fiberglass pedestal when we bought the boat; one facing port, the other facing starboard. It would have not been my first choice location but they were already there. The ones that were outside had deteriorated pretty badly so I removed those and tossed them; moved the ones in the cabin to the pedestal and bought two new small box speakers for the vberth. If I can find some pictures, I'll post them.

Clark I know it has been a while but this past weekend I almost knocked myself out on that stereo and a friend gifted me a set of Flush mount cockpit speakers. I am interested in the pedestal mount because it would mean I don't have the magnet side exposed in the aft cabin anywhere. Since you changed them out you know how the wires are run and how you accessed that area. I assume they are under the storage area that is under the Cup holders? There are drain holes there do they drain over your speakers? Thanks for any detail you can give me.

 

[Clark]

I'm pretty sure the cutouts are just below that storage area in the pedestal. Our pedestal is protected by a wheel/pedestal cover AND a bimini so no water ever gets into that space. As to how the wires are run; I believe they follow the throttle/shift cable into the fuel and holding tank space then around the sides to the overhead console (where my unit is located). Another drawback to where my outside speakers are located is that they are kinda close to the cockpit floor and get tapped occasionally by our feet as we go fwd and aft in the cockpit.
This is a sister ship but the placement of the speakers are pretty close to where mine are.


Hope this helps . . .

 

[Cor280]

Here are some ideas I did on my 1996 280...

With the cubby's that hold your interior speakers do you still have the board that folds down to extend the V-berth? Also is there a back to that cubby that runs along the hull of the boat? I think I am going to build some but with the fold out V berth out it doesn't seem like there is as much room as yours but a picture can be deceiving. I have seen pictures of head units in them as well. If it's not too much to ask and you have time I would of love to get some dimensions from you. There aren't any I can look at in person.