Runnning speaker wires

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Mark

I think it may have been Brigg who mounted his CD/Radio just forward of the compression post. That is where I would like to put mine. Can anyone tell me how I might feed the speaker wires from that location down to the bunks for I wish to locate the speakers in the wall of the bunks (aft). I had a quick look this morning and thought that it might be possible to run the wires forward in the lining to the bow and then down to the forard bunks but have noticed there is a glassed in bulkhead in the bow so that may prevent this. Any ideas very welcome
 
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Reudi Ross

Hello Mark

You have a 260, I believe. If you want to mount it in front of the compression post, you might look at running them back to the head and down along the bulkhead behind the headliner. I mounted my cd player on the ceiling above the ice chest. gives you a good wire run to the cabinet under the stove and from there up to under the bunks as well as back to the cockpit through the conduit that is factory installed.
 
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Mark

Hello Reudi

Thanks for your advice. Over the weekend I fitted the speakers underneath the bunks on the port side close up the head wall and on the starboard side below the seat close up to the galley wall. I manage to run the speaker wires, from the port side zip tying it along the water pipe pvc up to near the bow and then back along again under the bunks zip tying to the starboard water pipe pvc, through a gap against the side of the hull and the galley along behind the stove. The hardest part was getting the wires from underneath the galley up to the area behind the elctrical panel, Very little room. I figured that a condut fitted in this area during construction would have been very very handy but never the less I got the wires through. I then located a condut in behind a cover plate for the stauchion wich ended up behing the compression plate. Am now about to mount a console that I made to house the CD player aft of the compression plate. Tested the wiring and the sound is excellent. Will try to post a phot of the completed job in the next few days. The next job is to mount the VHF in the head wall on the left as you come down the companionway. So will need to run coax from the compression plate though the head liner to the area above the heads. Should be as difficult a job as running the speaker wires. "I hope"
 
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Paul H

Mark-Speaker Wire

Mark, what type and size wire did you end up using. I've been having a problem with our CD player for over a year. Have narrowed it down to bad speaker(s) or wiring gone bad. I'm going to test these out this weekend. May end up replacing all the existing wiring if that proves the cause. Not looking forward to that. Pul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
 
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Mark

Got as heavy as I could buy

Each wire of the pair I guess is about 3mm thick. One wire appears to be tinned, the other a copper colour. Bit vague I'm sorry but I'll check tonight after work. Those who responded suggested heavier wire is better than light wire.
 
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Paul H

Speaker Wires-again!!!

Well, found out the problems with the stereo were the wires. Now I have to rerun them all over again. Don't know if I can tie the old wires together with the new and pull them through since they are really tight. Thought about rerunning the wires on the port side across the area where the cables for wheel steering would go. There is a big access panel in the aft section over the bed. Any suggestions???? Also, should I use Ancor speaker wire or is regular speaker wire 12- 14 gauge good enough?? The bigger the wire the harder it is to get through. Can someone give me advice on what is the best way to run the wires? Thanks Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
 
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Paul H

Speaker Location

Mark, I have four speakers . Two are in the outside cockpit one on each side. They are about 7 inches from the aft end of the seats. The port one does not cut through the storage compartment. The ones inside are on either side of the salon. One is near the sink and the other is a close to the bulkhead wall for the head.How do you begin to fish the wire through??? I've been looking at Ancor 18/2 wire. Is that big enough?? Did you use marine speaker wire?? Lots of questions. Thanks for the help> Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
 
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Mark

Hell Paul

Mark is away sailing for three days so he will get back to you then.
 
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Brigg

Not to throw cold water, but

Mark, I don't want to throw cold water on your project, but the BIG problem I had with my VHF on the headliner just aft of the compression post was constantly hitting my fat head on it. I could not approach the table without getting a new dent. As for the wiring, I pushed an electrician's "snake" (read springy wire) through the headliner to the access pannel above the head, where the compass wires are located. I then pulled the VHF antenna wire through the headliner. I did this when I moved the VHF to the outside of the head wall beside the companion way hatch. From here I can hear the radio much better in the cockpit. For my AM-FM-CD I am installing it in the forward wall of the head under the cabinet top. The controls are outside the head, in the cabin, next to the port seats. My speakers are located on the two stanchen access plates in the forward cabin, port and starboard and in the cockpit under the stern rail seats. The outside wires run inside the rails into the aft cubby area. Here is a picture of that wiring. With the speakers under the seats they stay well protected and provide good separation. I also didn't have to cut any big holes in the cockpit. Brigg
 
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Mark

Thanks Brigg

Over the next couple of days I'll post a picture of where the CD/Radio now lives.
 
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Brigg

AM-FM-CD location

Here is a picture of the cutout for the AM-FM-CD. The wiring is all inside the cabinet under the sink in the head. I plan to put a shelf above the radio for CDs and magazines. The radio itself pulls out of the metal shell in the cutout, for security when in port. BTW you can see a picture of the old VHF placement at the headliner under the thread about DC outlet placement. You may just be able to see pieces of my flesh on the VHF. Brigg
 
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