Professional Installer?

You can either get a decent radio with power or keep in mind a 6 channel is usually cheaper than a 5 channel and you can bridge the two giving you about same power. my 89 i run 2 blue top optimas on a switch never had a problem with 4 polk momos and 12" polk sub , 5 channel kicker amp. I would run a JL enclosure marine sub they have a 10 or 12" ready to run its not cheap though, bazooka is nice for space and durable under the dash, powered or non powered.

I just wanted to listen to some music! I knew I needed a decent set of speakers and a little power...I just don't want to cheap out and have buyers remorse... I am too old for that! I just want to have an above average system....that works well......

I want to float in the middle of the lake (Erie) and enjoy the summer!

I understand that if I don't turn it way up it won't use as much juice as if I was cranking it out!

I need to have this project wrapped up....My wife found a 16.5 Lyman boat she wants so that may add to the busy spring time on the horizon!

Thats why I am not big on a sub...

The class of amps makes a difference in efficiency and battery draw. I am drawing a blank right now, but it seems like Class D is more efficient than a C class. Basically, the more expensive amps are more efficient with battery draw. You get what you pay for.

Do a site search for Randy in Ohio. Randy use to contribute often, but the fear of bears scared him and his ex wife away. Randy installed a Hellroaring (brand) battery isolation device. This device automatically switches away from your starting battery and to your secondary battery when not under power. Like playing gangster rap in the cove with the homeys. Then when you go to start the boat, it automatically switches over to the staring battery that has not been effected by the sound system. There was more rewiring involved than I wanted to go through for this product, but several on it site have used battery isolation devices. I got a ton of info concerning grounding and wiring from Planet Nautique.

When I installed my system. I installed a Perko Switch. I wired everything for a second batter,, just in case, but I never installed it. To insure no alternator noise, it is all about good ground wires. I purchase custom prefabricated wires with clamped on fittings. They are very large in size. I will look in my folder and get you the web-sites of some of the vendors I used. My speaker wires are all very heavy duty and large in size. For power and ground you need Marine Duty wires. West Marine carries it but I had it custom made with ends for less.

If you go with two batteries, you need to start the boat on a starting battery, many use a dual purpose, trolling motor battery to play the music. Just start the boat with a starting battery. We need to start another thread concerning installing the brass pole on the boat for the ladies. Please forgive my toxic masculinity. I do not use Proctor and Gamble products.

In my old Nautique after stranding my wife in a river current with two young babies on board I installed dual batteries for more protection and power.
I measured the battery box and found two batteries that fit sideways in the same box. I think each only had capacity for 600 CCA but that gave me 1200 CCA in the same battery box.   It worked very well, I wired them in sequence so it gave me more reserve capacity.
Sorry I don't remember the size or group number. Just measure how much space your box offers and see what is out there than will fit.   The only negative is when one goes bad you have to change both, your alternator will only charge to the level the weaker battery can hold so you need to have two equal batteries in that connection.
There is a big difference in reserve capacity with two batteries on board even if they only offer 600 CCA.

I had a Denali with a large Amp installed, great sound, we went snow skiing one day, my son got tired early and headed back to the car, of course I gave him the keys.   He was bored and turned on the music.   We got back an hour later and could not start the truck.
At 10 degrees outside a battery does not have much reserve.
Damn that leaves you steamed.   Those big amps can drain a good battery quickly.
Run 2 batteries and have a safety shut off built in to leave you enough to start the engine when necessary.

I did not know that! Is that in the specifications of the amplifier? So much to know so little time! Thank you for pointing that out.

Ok Guys....Here is what I am going to run:

JL M700/5 5-channel marine amplifier — 75 watts x 4 + 180 watts x 1 at 4 ohms (530 watts right?)

or

JLM400/4 75x 4 75 wattx4 amp

(4) JL JL Audio MX650-CCX-SG-WH

a JL Subwoofer?

I am not a big base guy either...I just want to listen to music while relaxing...I would love not to put a second battery in!!!!


How did you both wire your audio system to minimize any engine noise through the system?

Can you recommend a jump box? I was going to look into them but as of now I don't know a thing!!!

Thank You

Otto!

Otto Throttle wrote: . Now i have accepted the fact that I need a second battery. Otto

Otto,
Just as Zach mentioned, why the second battery? What are your amp/watt hour calculations?

I have a 1999 CB 19'6" Nautique. I just wanted a nice radio to listen too while floating around in the lake.....now i have selected 4 JL m650s, a JL M400 amp, and an unspecified head unit. Now i have accepted the fact that I need a second battery. Now people are recommending a sub...

I am quickly seeing that I m running out of space on this boat, and my patience is running thin! Can anyone share there setup with me or give me ideas where to put all of this stuff!

OR

Can someone recommend a professional installer in the Cleveland area!


Thanks!


Otto