I am the proud new owner of a Hunter 340. Currently there are no cockpit speakers. Does anyone have any information on mounting one's own speakers on the stainless steel arch? All information you can share would be most appreciated, such as what speakers would work, how would you mount them, what would be the best pathway for the speaker wire run, etc? Thanks!
Speakers on SS Arch?
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Not easy
Not easy to do but with some hard work I did it on my 2001 290. I got the hunter speakers with light and wiring from hunter but you could rig up your own speakers cheaper. The hardest part is drilling the holes in the arch up top on the arch and the harder part is drilling the hole in the bottom of arch mounted on the deck with excess in the cockpit locker. You will need to start taking things apart so you can run the speaker wires to the radio from the bottom of the arch. Start doing some checking first how you will run the wires before doing anything. Nick
Not easy to do but with some hard work I did it on my 2001 290. I got the hunter speakers with light and wiring from hunter but you could rig up your own speakers cheaper. The hardest part is drilling the holes in the arch up top on the arch and the harder part is drilling the hole in the bottom of arch mounted on the deck with excess in the cockpit locker. You will need to start taking things apart so you can run the speaker wires to the radio from the bottom of the arch. Start doing some checking first how you will run the wires before doing anything. Nick
Volume control????
Hmmmm....that gets me thinking, I'd love to add a volume control there....can't tell you how many times I've had to send the admiral below to turn down the volume. I'm guessing any outdoor volume control would work. anyone retrofit one of these .....any recommendations/tricks/gotchas???? Tim
Hmmmm....that gets me thinking, I'd love to add a volume control there....can't tell you how many times I've had to send the admiral below to turn down the volume. I'm guessing any outdoor volume control would work. anyone retrofit one of these .....any recommendations/tricks/gotchas???? Tim
Radio Shack
I was told by Radio Shack it is easy to do with some kind of rotary switch for my 290 but never got to it, maybe I'll get to it on my new 36. Let me know if you do it first and if I do it I will let this forum know. Nick
I was told by Radio Shack it is easy to do with some kind of rotary switch for my 290 but never got to it, maybe I'll get to it on my new 36. Let me know if you do it first and if I do it I will let this forum know. Nick
Ultimate Speaker Pod
I'll jump in with my upgrade. And my thanks to Nick. Nick put me in touch with Hunter and the availability of a speaker pod for the arch for my 290. I assume the same is available for your 340. I installed Sailor Solution's wireless control for the cockpit light. Nothing like knowing which boat is yours as you dinghy back on a moonless night. Click the button and on comes the light. The arch speakers have a three position toggle switch; one for each speaker. (I couldn't find a double pole switch, so I have two switches.) The center position is off; one side is for VHF; the other is radio; so the idea is either on or off for each, no volume control. I tried several ideas using potentiometers but couldn't find anything that would work, so I stuck to the on/off idea. Good luck with your installation. Any questions, let me know. Paul
I'll jump in with my upgrade. And my thanks to Nick. Nick put me in touch with Hunter and the availability of a speaker pod for the arch for my 290. I assume the same is available for your 340. I installed Sailor Solution's wireless control for the cockpit light. Nothing like knowing which boat is yours as you dinghy back on a moonless night. Click the button and on comes the light. The arch speakers have a three position toggle switch; one for each speaker. (I couldn't find a double pole switch, so I have two switches.) The center position is off; one side is for VHF; the other is radio; so the idea is either on or off for each, no volume control. I tried several ideas using potentiometers but couldn't find anything that would work, so I stuck to the on/off idea. Good luck with your installation. Any questions, let me know. Paul
Try a car stereo store
that does high end installations. They will have a rheostat that should do what you want. I have my stereo mounted where I can shoot thru the companionway with a remote. That way I can control all the functions of the stereo. If your stereo has a remote but you can't see it from the cockpit you can install a mirror to bounce the infrared signal.
that does high end installations. They will have a rheostat that should do what you want. I have my stereo mounted where I can shoot thru the companionway with a remote. That way I can control all the functions of the stereo. If your stereo has a remote but you can't see it from the cockpit you can install a mirror to bounce the infrared signal.
Wired Remote
Just as a retrofit, some kind of waterproof potentiometer between the amp and the speakers should do the trick for volume control. Along with trying to figure out what speakers to install and where in the cockpit to put them, I am upgrading the stereo system (mounted at nav station) w/ Jensen Marine's MSR3007 AM/FM/CD/Sirius/iPod unit and putting in a waterproof wired remote at the pedestal (Jensen MWR100), which will allow me to switch between audio sources, change channels, control the iPod, and control the volume from the helm. Depending on what stereo receiver you have, a wired remote may be another avenue to explore. Link to the MWR100 below.
Just as a retrofit, some kind of waterproof potentiometer between the amp and the speakers should do the trick for volume control. Along with trying to figure out what speakers to install and where in the cockpit to put them, I am upgrading the stereo system (mounted at nav station) w/ Jensen Marine's MSR3007 AM/FM/CD/Sirius/iPod unit and putting in a waterproof wired remote at the pedestal (Jensen MWR100), which will allow me to switch between audio sources, change channels, control the iPod, and control the volume from the helm. Depending on what stereo receiver you have, a wired remote may be another avenue to explore. Link to the MWR100 below.
disappointing sound
That OEM speaker pod in the arch is always going to sound a bit flat and tinny. For better sound and an easier install mount a pair of box-type marine speakers under the cove seats facing forward.
That OEM speaker pod in the arch is always going to sound a bit flat and tinny. For better sound and an easier install mount a pair of box-type marine speakers under the cove seats facing forward.
box speakers
I ordered some Poly-Planar box speakers last night and was planning to install overhead on the arch. But mounting under the stern rail seats is another idea I will take into consideration -- good suggestion. Thanks for all the comments. Still interested in hearing from others if this is something you've done on yours. I will let you know how it turns out (will be hoping for some somewhat warmer weather in these northern lats for the install).
I ordered some Poly-Planar box speakers last night and was planning to install overhead on the arch. But mounting under the stern rail seats is another idea I will take into consideration -- good suggestion. Thanks for all the comments. Still interested in hearing from others if this is something you've done on yours. I will let you know how it turns out (will be hoping for some somewhat warmer weather in these northern lats for the install).
That's quite a nav station
Quite the nav station, Fred. What do you use to keep the laptop in place while underway (assuming you do)?
Quite the nav station, Fred. What do you use to keep the laptop in place while underway (assuming you do)?
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