Boat Radio (music, not VHF)

[Esteban Nunez]

I'm looking into what radio to put into the boat I'm going to buy. Brands
and features aside, I see two options:

1) Marine radio (usually white color)
2) Normal car radio (what you can buy anywhere)

The radio will be installed in the cabin, protected from the elements. I
also plan to put it into one of those sealed boxes they sell which provides
an additional cover.

Should I get a marine radio or will the "normal" type work?

Same question for speakers: marine or normal?

A friend told me, get a normal radio but marine speakers.

Thanks in advance.

Esteban
este...@voicenet.com

[Cameron Spears]

> Should I get a marine radio or will the "normal" type work?
> Same question for speakers: marine or normal?

I've installed stereos and speakers on my boat plus some friends (all
fresh water, by the way). Based on that experience, here's my two
cents:

Stereo: get a commercial car stereo, especially given the fact that
yours will be mounted in the cabin. They pretty much all have removable
face plates these days, so be sure to always take the face plate when
your boat is not being used.

Speaker: again, I vote commercial car stereo speakers. Lots of good car
audio speakers have polyproplyene (plastic) cones and hence are fairly
waterproof. Just try not to spray water directly into them when washing
your boat. I have done a couple of installations on friends' boats with
more than four years of use and they still work great. Considering that
you can get a decent pair of car speakers for $50 or so, this is not a
bad return on investment (and they sound much better than your typical
"marine" speakers).

Happy boating,
Cameron

[George Jefferson]

:Stereo: get a commercial car stereo, especially given the fact that

:yours will be mounted in the cabin.

ditto. If you think you are going to listen while cruising, dont
skimp on the power.

:Speaker: again, I vote commercial car stereo speakers. Lots of

:good car
:audio speakers have polyproplyene (plastic) cones and hence are
:fairly
:waterproof.

do they? I think most have paper cones -- check the specs.
Even with plastic cones the internals are prone to corrosion
if not designed for a wet environment. In the cabin or
otherwise protected I might try car speakers, on deck
go with real weatherproof designs. Space permitting i
like bose 151's ( totally sealed enclosure ). Bose also makes
flush mount marine speakers, which are probably good but not
if the back is liable to get wet.

--
george
jef...@dca.net

[D Donahue]

Esteban Nunez <este...@voicenet.com> wrote in article
<uDwv1.123$NJ5.1...@news2.voicenet.com>...

> I'm looking into what radio to put into the boat I'm going to buy.
Brands
> and features aside, I see two options:
>
> 1) Marine radio (usually white color)
> 2) Normal car radio (what you can buy anywhere)
>
> The radio will be installed in the cabin, protected from the elements. I
> also plan to put it into one of those sealed boxes they sell which
provides
> an additional cover.
>

> Should I get a marine radio or will the "normal" type work?

A normal car stereo will not only work, it will be less expensive, and
easier to install

> Same question for speakers: marine or normal?

I put regular speakers in my boat, no problem at all, if they are going to
be out of the elements, ( I made speaker boxes for mine) dont have any
worrys. Plus for the same price you buy marine speakers for you could buy
two sets of car speakers.

[Plastic]

If you go with a marine radio- take a look at Si-Tex TS 90. I just had to
order a wiring harness to move to another boat and those peaople were great.
Very polite- had my parts in two days and it was reasonable. Only problem
was that I got the wrong part (maybe a result of my description) but when I
called they shiped the right part at no charge. I haven't seen that kind of
attitude and service from a company in a long time. I'll take a first look
at their products whenever I need electronics from now on.
D Donahue wrote in message <01bdbb15$d105af80$7c6f31cc@test>...

[Oreo2595]

I put a "normal" AM/FM cassette stereo in my boat. It's not all that well
protected from the elements and the boat stays in salt water for six months.
I'm on my third season with it and so far so good. At the end of the season
before the boat is stored (outdoors) i put a light coat of WD-40 on the chassis
(not inside the unit). Speakers, however were different. I had a small pair of
Advents and the metal grilles began rusting badly. I replaced them with Bose
151 environmental speaker and they sound great, are more efficient and show no
signs of weather.
Safe boating,
James

[Ken Norling]

I've owned two crusiers and have high end steroes installed in both. As the
deck is in the cabin I went with "normal" auto type and have had no problems.
(note this is a fresh water application)

for the speakers I had marine grade installed on the outside and non marine
grade on the inside. My first marine grade set were alpine which I thought
were prettty awesome until my second install resulted in Pioneer. I was
TRULY impressed with the Pioneers .. Amazing sound reproduction much better
than the Alpine.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Ken

Esteban Nunez wrote:

> I'm looking into what radio to put into the boat I'm going to buy. Brands
> and features aside, I see two options:
>
> 1) Marine radio (usually white color)
> 2) Normal car radio (what you can buy anywhere)
>
> The radio will be installed in the cabin, protected from the elements. I
> also plan to put it into one of those sealed boxes they sell which provides
> an additional cover.
>
> Should I get a marine radio or will the "normal" type work?
>

> Same question for speakers: marine or normal?
>

[Chuck Matheson]

I use a regular car stereo w/cassette. Panasonic with a soundstream amp.
The speakers on the other hand are marine grade Bose 151's. I have been
in the saltwater with them the last two years and I have not had a
problem yet.