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Catalina 250 cabin speakers

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capnedo
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/09/2009 : 11:40:28

Hey all,

I owned a Catalina 25 for years and posted a few times on the 25 side. Just got a 2007 250 last fall and am doing a few upgrades before launch this season. I'm going to be mounting speakers in the cockpit (6" 2-way Polyplanar anti-magnetic), but I'm not sure the best place to mount them. In my 25, the best location was pretty obvious (to me), up on the coaming, just aft of the cabin bulkhead. In the 250, the way the deck joins the hull doesn't make this as open of a mounting area on the inside. Just curious where some of you have mounted your speakers and why. Thanks!

Edited by - on

moserd
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2009 : 12:25:35

I mounted my box speakers under the 'cat-bird' seats which works quite well. They are protected from the weather and are out of the way of crew; looks and sounds great.

D

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capnedo
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2009 : 16:53:00

That seems awfully close to the pedestal compass if you have wheel steering (I do). If so, have you noticed it effecting the compass at all? I had a bad experience before with mounting normal speakers too close to a compass. The Polyplanar anti-magnetic speakers solved the problem, but I don't think they make a box speaker that is anti-magnetic.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2009 : 19:09:17

Eric,
I have 2 Bose under the cat bird seats and 2 forward in the cabin.
I don't think you will have any problems with your compass.

Don't forget you have magnets in the flywheel of your outboard and its just as close.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 04/09/2009 19:13:06

capnedo
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2009 : 11:07:42

Cool. It's certainly an uninvasive way to do it. Do you still get decent bass response?

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2009 : 16:06:24

Eric, how did you mount the speakers under the seats? I have those speakers (Bose) and if I remember they are water proof aren't they?

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capnedo
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2009 : 16:45:14

Well, I haven't yet, but I'm leaning more and more that way. Their description online says that they have mounting brackets included, so I'm assuming that's what these guys used? Back to the magnetic issue...does anyone who's used this method have wheel steering and therefor a compass close to the speakers? On my 25 I once mounted 6" speakers on the inside of the coamings just aft of the cabin. That boat had the compass mounted on the bulkhead, which I realize is a bit closer than these would be, but they TOTALLY wacked out my compass...not just a slight interference...rendered it totally useless. The Polyplanar antimagnetic speakers fixed that problem, but of course I'm hesitant now to mount speakers remotely close to the compass unless someone has done it and had no problems.

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moserd
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2009 : 07:41:17

I drilled holes in the catbird plastic seats, counter sunk the heads and mounted the brackets that came with my speakers. From the top side view it looks factory! No problems with my compass and the speakers have worked just fine for the last 4 years. I also mounted two box speakers in the cabin so I can listen down below without annoying others (balance forward).

Edited by - on

capnedo
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2009 : 10:28:26

Sold...just sounds like a placement that's pretty hard to beat (and no holes in the boat). Bose has their new model out now, which is a little more expensive and are sort of curved. Just found a pair of the box type like yours new on Ebay though...think I'll hit "buy". Thanks for the help everyone!

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2009 : 11:20:13

Here are the two mounted forward in the V-berth.

Edited by - on

capnedo
Deckhand

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USA
10 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2009 : 11:35:03

Very nice. Incidentally, has anyone ever used the TIC brand speakers? They're for the same applications as the Bose 151...similar size with mounting brackets, etc. They make ASP-25, 60, and 125 models. I only ask because one review I saw said to check them out. They're substantially cheaper than the Bose, even the 120watt model, and most customer reviews claim they sound great...just no reviews for using them in this way. Just curious if anyone has heard them.

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srf2
1st Mate

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32 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 08:19:17

Tom & All: Can you please describe how you ran your speaker wires to the cat bird seats? I assume you go through the railing but how do I drill a hole through the boat where the railing is connected to the boat? I have a 2008 250 and it is difficult to access the aft compartment. Any help would be appreciated.

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willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 21:28:33

SRF,
You can get to the inside of the rail seats without too much trouble by unsrewing the rear and side panels around the aft birth. I had to do it as my seat got racked banging a piling during a Noreaster last year and it wasn't nearly as difficult as I expected. (used a drill with a phillips bit) I don't remember whether you could run the wire from there though...better wait until Tom chimes in as he may have the wires taped to the outside.
Willy

Edited by - on

moserd
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2009 : 04:53:30

My first video post; hope it works.

Here is a picture of how I routed my speaker wires externally. Internally I simply remove access panels and 'ran' the wires.

Don

Edited by - on

moserd
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2009 : 04:55:45

Ooops, forgot to annotate.

I mounted a connector just below the seat support in the picture. I ran the wires externally to the seat 'tubing' secured with tie wraps and used 'sticky' tie wraps under the seat. This approach has worked well for the last 4 years.

Edited by - on

frejoh
Navigator

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USA
116 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2009 : 05:25:47

I'm thinking of installing speakers (not box-type, obviously) in the coamings or between cockpit seats and sole. Is one location better over the other faor any reason? To prevent water intrusion, should we get some gasket material and place it in the joint between speaker and boat? What kind of material is best, or are there any real choices?

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2009 : 08:42:01

Fred, I would encourage you to consider the under-the-catbird seats install for your speakers. Cutting big holes in the cockpit is such a permanent move that I would avoid it myself. If you do cut the holes be aware of the possibility that some people add portlights to the area under the cockpit seats to let light and air into the aft berth. I'd avoid placing speakers in that area so you do not preclude portlights down the road.

Edited by - on

frejoh
Navigator

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USA
116 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2009 : 18:16:15

Anyone mount flush speakers in the coamings? Pros/cons? Maybe I can save them for inside and get box speakers for out...have to sell CinChouse on more boat units...How much is a boat unit, anyway?

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.