Mounting Radio Under Dash

Just like the old Corvettes.

All,
After visiting the Green Lake Reunion and seeing how the newer boats have their radios mounted I got an idea.

Up under the dash on the my '86 Nautique, close to where the steering cable tube extends, the gunnel continues for about 8". Careful to not obstruct the steering cable tube extension, I mounted a piece of 3/4" x 4" x 10" piece of PT vertically so that the opposite end just rests against the carpet on the inside of the hull.

I then drilled new holes in my radio case mounting bracket so that the mounting bracket would attach flush to the case.

Mounting the bracket to the vertical piece of wood I now have a radio that is vertically mounted, flush with the dash. It's easily accessible by the driver but also out of the way.

Now I just need to add some gray carpet to the piece of PT and I'm ready to go.

-Keith





View from under the dash

Make it look like it was installed by the factory and no one is going to know the difference, well most, and you can always say It's a special trim piece only available on the Silver Nautique speciel edition model

Keith/NAUTI84,

I don't think the 84 models came with the tray on the dash, so I was wondering, could we buy the lockable glove box and cut out a hole on the top of the dash where the tray is on the later models? It might be a kindof sortof stock way to install the radio even though it wasn't available for my year model. It gives me the heebie jeebies to think about cutting a large hole in my dash!

Keith / Wesman
My 84 didn't have the tray either.
(I had thought about adding a glovebox there though.)
I bought an enclosure that has a clear curved splash cover on the face. It slides open when you push a button.
I mounted this in the center of the dash, right below the emblem that's behind the corner of the observers seat.
There's still enough room to reach behind the seat to work stereo or flip seat forward for better access. Not original but looks decent.

Keith, I have a 1984 SN and was wondering what "tray" you were referring to. I don't recall anything on the dash panel that resembles a tray, or something that can be modified into the locking glove box. I too am struggling with the thought of installing a stereo, but the "where?" question has kept me from moving forward with it.

I just spoke with Bruce at MWCC. They do sell the lockable glove box that came in the 87 Ski Nautique (replaces the 'tray' on the 82-86). It has a slot for a radio. The problem is it wouldn't be orginial to the '86 and I would need to cut away more of the dash. It would look clean though.

The enclosure 79 is talking about is nice, I looked at those but it would hang too low for me when mounted upside down under the dash. I need to keep the skin on my shins.

Yes, I figured I would use the box which is very similar to what 79nautique referenced.

might look into something like this enclosure

enclosure

My '86 Silver Nautique came with a AM/FM CD radio mounted on top of the dash in a waterproof radio box. It's really an eye sore for me. I'll pull it out but the speakers are installed in the gunnel and it would be strange to have speakers with no radio.

Anyway, I want to mount the radio under the dash. I'm looking for a bracket that would allow me to mount it to the back side of dash but hang down below the dash for diver access.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Keith