Speaker Boxes

I plan on making speaker boxes for the boat instead of mounting the speakers in the side of the boat.

I have searched and search in the site for sound system installation pointers as I am not an expert and im looking for some ideas on this or to talk to some one who has done it. I was also looking at mounting a wired remote for the head unit by the back seat in one of the speaker boxes so that friends can change to tunes.

I am having the battery box expanded to hold two batteries. Need to figure out how im going to wire all that up as well

what are some of the things you all have learned or wished you would have done different during your audio system installs?

any one got any advice? pics?

If you decide to get into a multiple battery system, it gets complex but it's do-able. Your stereo battery would be like your "house" battery on a cabin cruiser, and you'd still want to retain your starting battery for the engine.

There are switches available, and little electronic gizmos that keep track of getting charge to the batteries. That stuff makes my brain hurt a little.

I think TXFoilHead in JoeinNY have multiple battery setups for their stereos. Of course, the new blinged out wakeboard boats can have this setup. You may want to pick up a book like this Boat Owners Electical Handbook. I haven't read that one, but I've read others, it helps to have some background.

You'd really want to layout a master plan, before you start buying a lot of stuff.

sure nothing too exciting sony dsx-m60 head/ipod thingy, I used 6 in polkdb in the back of combing pad where PO cut a hole. Then I am in the process of making a custom fiberglass box for a 4 in polk db on the port side and on the starboard its going under the shifter area to the right in custom console with 12v power, my perfect pass display and a small glove box. Then I have a polk db 10 inch sub going in a custom fiberglass box up under the bow on the airbox with a polk PA330 300watt amp.

Thats the basics of it. Nothing too crazy but it will get the job done. I went with smaller speakers up front figuring the sub would help with the low end. I also went with a low wattage amp because I didnt want to tax the electrical system. Its not really designed for a stereo. Thats my thoughts by far not the best system out there but I got most of it on ebay and my total cost is under $300.

Justin,

One thing you could do, and I got this idea from the way M3Fan wired up his Perfect Pass.

You could run a dedicated feed from your battery to your stereo system. Then, have that source turned on and off with a relay, that could be switched by your key, or better yet, by a spare accessory button.

Here are the rings for the boxes

It (the Perfect Pass) seems to have a pretty strong draw, although I'm not sure about the exact specs. It was enough that it was causing some headaches until I re-enforced the ground to my dash. If it's not getting enough voltage it likes to keep beeping at you. I would think you'd be ok with a clean feed from the battery, even if it is shared.

I have some fiber laying around. I have thought about covering the boxes I make with carbon fiber. Maybe Ill just gel coat them or paint. Havent decided.

I am looking to add a stereo system as well and had some questions. This was a diagram I drew up at work the other day. I want to either build or buy some boxes to fit under the gunnels, with a net between them for storage space. I also want to add a cup holder for the folks in the back. Of course I would run this on both sides. This seems like a simple project, but I'm not all that crafty and wanted some advice.

My biggest question is how I will mount all this to the boat. I want to run 4 speakers in the boat, and eventually some tower speakers. I have 2 10" subs and a 980 watt amp I have from a set up I had in my car. I was thinking of maybe running 1 sub, definitely not both. Is that too much amp? I am thinking potentially 6 speakers and a sub that it might not be too much. But I'm not sure. And I'm assuming if I run this much that I should run a separate battery?

Any thoughts/concerns are greatly appreciated!

And btw it is an '86 Nautique 2001.

oledb4 - I really like your idea. the cup holder is a must! gottaq protect those cold ones!

I am running a sperate battery as the new floor will have a new battery box that will hold two.

i wont have any of the posts fiberglassed in the hull like stated above. i wish i would have planned that out though. seems like a great way.
I guess there is some way you could get them attached to the gunnels. Ill keep brain storming. Its tough with out the boat to figure out an attachment meathod.

Can't remember where, maybe on CCF, but I saw somewhere where they had glued some bolts with very large backer like heads on them to the fiberglass hull with epoxy under the combing pads. Then they just cut small holes in the carpet and poked the bolts through. Then mount the speaker boxes to the bolts and then the speakers to the box.

Maybe someone recalls seeing this as well and can pull up the pictures.

Looks like a beer bong under the gunnel...any chance thats original?

storm34 wrote: Looks like a beer bong under the gunnel...any chance thats original?

Sorry Chris it's just the hose for the fat sac pump. I gave up the beer bong in college and graduated to this....

8122pbrainard wrote: Morfoot wrote: I gave up the beer bong in college and graduated to this.... Tim, Damn, you are taking my memory back at least 35 years!! Yes, the good old days did have some good times but, we all need to get down to reality hopefully sooner than later! Beer bong?? Man, we just put water in the bong and drank the beer!!!