With our new 310 arriving soon we are looking at what type of stereo to add. It seems that you can get a lot more in terms of features and output power for your money with a car CD player than with a similar marinised version. Any advise on the need for a marine version when it is going to be mounted inside the cabin. Is there still a risk posed by the salt air environment? Thanks Malcolm
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
S
Sean
Awsome Stereo
Five years ago I installed a Sony 100 watt receiver with a cassette player. We added a power amp to run our four self contained speakers and a 7 band graphic equalizer. The sound has been equal to my home system. This year we added a 12 disc JVC changer with wireless remote and a random feature. We just load 12 cds in the morning and we are set for the day. With the power amp, there is no need for external speakers. There is more than enough undistorted volume. I built a cabinet to the rear of the chart table that houses the system. The changer, which is only 8"x8"x4" is inside the chart table. The other benefit is you can run a patch cord between a TV/VCR and have the sound come out all four speakers. I have never had any trouble or corosion with this system. Hope this helps. It's pretty much unlimited what you can do. Hide all the wires.
Five years ago I installed a Sony 100 watt receiver with a cassette player. We added a power amp to run our four self contained speakers and a 7 band graphic equalizer. The sound has been equal to my home system. This year we added a 12 disc JVC changer with wireless remote and a random feature. We just load 12 cds in the morning and we are set for the day. With the power amp, there is no need for external speakers. There is more than enough undistorted volume. I built a cabinet to the rear of the chart table that houses the system. The changer, which is only 8"x8"x4" is inside the chart table. The other benefit is you can run a patch cord between a TV/VCR and have the sound come out all four speakers. I have never had any trouble or corosion with this system. Hope this helps. It's pretty much unlimited what you can do. Hide all the wires.
B
Bob Gauvreau
Installed our own
Malcom... When we took delivery on our C-36, we opted to install our own stereo system rather than have the dealer to it. I saved almost 1 boat buck over what the dealer would have charged and got a much better system. I have had several stereo systems on several boats and have NEVER used "marine grade" stuff, except for speakers that would be exposed, and then usually used high quality outdoor stuff. Base unit is a Sony 180 watt 4-speaker system (AM/FM/CD w/45 watts per channel.) Lots of bells and whistles, power to burn and terrific sound. Added a 6-disk CD changer. Don't have a wireless remote and have never felt the need for one. With a total of 7 disks, that's about 7 hours or so of Jimmy B. and Queen and Jim Morrison and Boston and Carlos Santana. Sounds is excellent. Speakers are 2 Boston Acoustic self-contained in the salon (attached to the forward bulkhead adjacent to the port/starboard shelf areas by entertainment center, etc.) Radio antenna for AM/FM was purchased @ an autoparts store. Cockpit speakers are waterproof Poly Planar low-profile Platinum series. They are mounted facing foward on the 2 stern hatches. Be sure to get water proof. Ours our wet a lot, due to SF Bay sailing (even with a dodger) and washdowns. I mounted both the player and the CD changer inside the starboard compartment behind/forward of the chart table. There is an area there that looks specifically designed for electronins installation. BTW, I used heavy, heavy "Monster Cire" for the speakers wire runs. Installing was easy, due to the wiring raceways in the boat and access ports, but time consuming. Took me about 2.5 - 3 days to pull all the wires and do a "sanitary" installation. But, I like doing that stuff. What was the cost? Sony player - $250 (Good Guys) Boston Speakers - $300 (Good Guys) Poly Planar Speakers - $190 (West Marine) Alpine CD Changer - $250 (Good Guys) 100' Monster cable - $120 (Good Guys) Circle cutting bit for rear speakers - $22 Breaker - $12 (West Marine) Radio antenna - $5 at Kragen There ya have it. Good luck! Bob.
Malcom... When we took delivery on our C-36, we opted to install our own stereo system rather than have the dealer to it. I saved almost 1 boat buck over what the dealer would have charged and got a much better system. I have had several stereo systems on several boats and have NEVER used "marine grade" stuff, except for speakers that would be exposed, and then usually used high quality outdoor stuff. Base unit is a Sony 180 watt 4-speaker system (AM/FM/CD w/45 watts per channel.) Lots of bells and whistles, power to burn and terrific sound. Added a 6-disk CD changer. Don't have a wireless remote and have never felt the need for one. With a total of 7 disks, that's about 7 hours or so of Jimmy B. and Queen and Jim Morrison and Boston and Carlos Santana. Sounds is excellent. Speakers are 2 Boston Acoustic self-contained in the salon (attached to the forward bulkhead adjacent to the port/starboard shelf areas by entertainment center, etc.) Radio antenna for AM/FM was purchased @ an autoparts store. Cockpit speakers are waterproof Poly Planar low-profile Platinum series. They are mounted facing foward on the 2 stern hatches. Be sure to get water proof. Ours our wet a lot, due to SF Bay sailing (even with a dodger) and washdowns. I mounted both the player and the CD changer inside the starboard compartment behind/forward of the chart table. There is an area there that looks specifically designed for electronins installation. BTW, I used heavy, heavy "Monster Cire" for the speakers wire runs. Installing was easy, due to the wiring raceways in the boat and access ports, but time consuming. Took me about 2.5 - 3 days to pull all the wires and do a "sanitary" installation. But, I like doing that stuff. What was the cost? Sony player - $250 (Good Guys) Boston Speakers - $300 (Good Guys) Poly Planar Speakers - $190 (West Marine) Alpine CD Changer - $250 (Good Guys) 100' Monster cable - $120 (Good Guys) Circle cutting bit for rear speakers - $22 Breaker - $12 (West Marine) Radio antenna - $5 at Kragen There ya have it. Good luck! Bob.
J
Jeff
Marine Stereo
I just installed the clarion marine am fm cd unit. It has 180 watts (45x4) choice of cassette or cd and the ability to operate a cd changer. There is also an optional lighted wired remote control which I had installed in the cockpit, It is small but controls all functions. I used 2 pioneer waterproof speakers down below and 2 in the cockpit. The sound is great and capable of lots of volume. This clarion unit seems to get great reviews from boat owners on the net.
I just installed the clarion marine am fm cd unit. It has 180 watts (45x4) choice of cassette or cd and the ability to operate a cd changer. There is also an optional lighted wired remote control which I had installed in the cockpit, It is small but controls all functions. I used 2 pioneer waterproof speakers down below and 2 in the cockpit. The sound is great and capable of lots of volume. This clarion unit seems to get great reviews from boat owners on the net.
S
Sean
Anntenna
I'd like to add that I used a stanchion for an antenna and it works great. I just attached the wires to the nuts on the inside. No need to try to find some place to hide an unsightly anntenna. Sean
I'd like to add that I used a stanchion for an antenna and it works great. I just attached the wires to the nuts on the inside. No need to try to find some place to hide an unsightly anntenna. Sean
J
Jon W
Heloo Malcolm
Hello Malcolm, Was just thinking of you and Kathy, and if you had gotten your boat yet, since your summer season is passing by, and I hadn’t heard any news from your end. As you may know, I used an automotive type CD/receiver and Bose weatherproof 151 speakers. Two speakers in the cabin and two under the stern rail seats. I used connector/plugs on the rear speakers, and remove them between trips for security and weathering reasons. I think the marinized vs automotive issue depends on the degree of humidity you expect in the equipment mounting area. I keep my boat very dry inside, and it’s not directly on the saltwater most of the year, so it wasn’t even a temptation to get higher priced and lower featured marine gear. When you think about it, automobiles are not the best environments either, so equipment that will work in cars may do very well. I may have thought differently if I was located in Miami on the saltwater. On the other hand, for the cost of automotive CD players these days, I could replace them every several years and still come out ahead. I did make sure to use good quality marine wire for the speakers, especially to the rear. I used Anchor Marine power wire, and 14 gauge should be plenty large enough for the short runs in a boat. Hope to hear you’re out sailing soon, Jon
Hello Malcolm, Was just thinking of you and Kathy, and if you had gotten your boat yet, since your summer season is passing by, and I hadn’t heard any news from your end. As you may know, I used an automotive type CD/receiver and Bose weatherproof 151 speakers. Two speakers in the cabin and two under the stern rail seats. I used connector/plugs on the rear speakers, and remove them between trips for security and weathering reasons. I think the marinized vs automotive issue depends on the degree of humidity you expect in the equipment mounting area. I keep my boat very dry inside, and it’s not directly on the saltwater most of the year, so it wasn’t even a temptation to get higher priced and lower featured marine gear. When you think about it, automobiles are not the best environments either, so equipment that will work in cars may do very well. I may have thought differently if I was located in Miami on the saltwater. On the other hand, for the cost of automotive CD players these days, I could replace them every several years and still come out ahead. I did make sure to use good quality marine wire for the speakers, especially to the rear. I used Anchor Marine power wire, and 14 gauge should be plenty large enough for the short runs in a boat. Hope to hear you’re out sailing soon, Jon
C
Carl
I'm confused
I have to admit I'm a bit confused about this debate on factory-installed vs. do-it-yourself steros. I used to sell stero equipment and have installed more than a few systems in my lifetime, but when we were purchasing our 310 I went out on my own and priced all the components I would want and found they added up to about the same cost as the comperable factory-installed unit I was quoted. Same goes for the do-it-yourself system Bob references in his reply to this question. His components cost exactly the same as mine but I didn't have to spend my time cutting holes and running wire. And, they system they installed at the factory is excellent!--so good in fact that I have to watch myself lest my marina neighbors get too much of an earful of my music. Frankly, I can see absolutley no logical reason not to have the factory install the system for you. The alternative seems penny wise but pound foolish. It's like my Mom who would spend five dollars in gas and an hour of extra time just to save 10 cents on a can of soup at a cross-town supermarket. Why bother?
I have to admit I'm a bit confused about this debate on factory-installed vs. do-it-yourself steros. I used to sell stero equipment and have installed more than a few systems in my lifetime, but when we were purchasing our 310 I went out on my own and priced all the components I would want and found they added up to about the same cost as the comperable factory-installed unit I was quoted. Same goes for the do-it-yourself system Bob references in his reply to this question. His components cost exactly the same as mine but I didn't have to spend my time cutting holes and running wire. And, they system they installed at the factory is excellent!--so good in fact that I have to watch myself lest my marina neighbors get too much of an earful of my music. Frankly, I can see absolutley no logical reason not to have the factory install the system for you. The alternative seems penny wise but pound foolish. It's like my Mom who would spend five dollars in gas and an hour of extra time just to save 10 cents on a can of soup at a cross-town supermarket. Why bother?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.