Association Forum - Stereo suggestions?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Stereo suggestions?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

kaferhaus
1st Mate

Member Avatar

40 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/12/2008 : 06:50:01

I have a Cat 25 and I'm looking to install a stereo with wireless remote capability.

Any suggestions on what to buy and where to install it and the speakers?

Steven Reeves
Dauphin Island, Alabama

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 08:24:09

Hi Kaferhaus,
[url="http://wave.mysite.com/medium_photo_page_3.html"] Here's my solution[/url]. And I'm really happy with the 2 boxed speakers. It's great that I can move them around and that they're not fixed to the aft pulpit, and they sound great.

Edited by - on

cat1951
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 08:39:19

Ours is mounted in the bulkhead with the power panel. Just to the right of the switches. And we have to small in cabin box speakers hanging under the cabin top above the rail shelf on the starboard and port sides. We also have two speakers in the cockpit mounted over the fuel locker, and the tool lazarette. However, I do not like the location of these. Since the speaker grills are curved, they keep the lazarette and fuel locker tops from opening all the way. I am trying to find some flat speaker grills so that both lids will open all the way.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 09:49:47

Get an iPod, make sure your stereo has an attachment, and get into iTunes at home. I just love having about 100 hours of music on board, never have to change a CD. I have a special sailing mix, 2 different driving mixes, a jazz mix, a rock mix, etc...

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 09:50:33

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 09:56:15

I have a Sony boombox, with wireless remote, secured atop the microwave.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 10:41:42

Boom box is a good solution... Whatever you install, it'll be wrong in a few years (probably very few)--even the speakers--and you'll have those lousy holes in the boat.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 11:21:43

IPOD.
Get a speaker dock that runs on batteries.
You can use it inside or outside, take it to the beach etc.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 11:44:43

This is such a personal question. My interior bulkhead mounted speakers sound great at all volumes, my rail mounted, large cockpit speakers often are played loud at the dock as music for everyone. (Well everyone except those who think bird noises and water lapping against the hull is all you should be able to hear.) I agree holes are bad, I don't have any for my speakers or radio. I agree that an iPod is indispensable, my radio supports one, (and has marine weather). A Wireless remote is probably a bad idea, most marine radios have wired remotes, they work well, can't get lost and are plenty long. I am not a boombox kind of guy, I can balance the speakers for appropriate volume inside and out, never worry about it flying around and sound much better. But as I said this is so personal that you really need to meet your expectations. Probably the most significant tip is that weather aside, a car radio works just fine inside our boats.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 13:02:02

No holes in the boat for stereos on the Nauti Duck. We got an iSongbook that sounds terrific, has AM/FM and clock, has a special iPod mount and a remote. It has a built in battery charger and can be run on 12V or 110. Here is a link to Sears which sells them for $150. Crutchfield wants $300! Tivoli is known for excellent sound from compact units. We bought the carrying case from Tivoli and hang the unit in the cabin of the boat. Bear in mind that we are not into real loud music and no one will mistake us for a ski boat.

[url="http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05792108000P?vName=Computers%20&%20Electronics&cName=MP3Players&sName=Accessories&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a"]iSongbook[/url]

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 13:41:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 ...Sears sells them for $150. Crutchfield wants $300!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Crutchfield must have the "marine quality" version.

Frank: Your ghetto blaster is probably like the one on the boat that sank for no apparent reason at our marina a few years back...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 02/12/2008 13:42:22

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

Members Avatar

844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 13:44:20

So many people put their speakers in the bulkhead, with the associated cutting, and I've never understood why. You only sit on one side of the boat or the other, so one "side" of the stereo speakers is always louder than the other to your ears. Our C25 had speakers like that, and we could never get the balance right, so stopped trying -- but being closer to one side or the other depending on where you sat really nixed the stereo affect.

In order to avoid making holes in our bulkheads in our new boat, and to avoid this imbalance, we put small bookshelf speakers on the port side storage shelves. One's forward, one further aft, stereo equipment in between. When sitting in the cabin the sound is much better and not left/right oriented.

We also mounted the stereo in a universal underdash mounting kit below the deck, avoiding cutting even more holes. The kit was free when we told them the stereo was a boat!

We used Crutchfield, since we got a great deal. But you do need to shop around to find what's best for your needs.

And after 25 years at this, you do NOT need "Marine grade" stuff. By the time regular auto stuff wears out, you'll already have wanted to buy newer technology. 25 years, three NON marine grades later, still playing music. Save your money for the music (unless you have a really leaky boat).

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 02/12/2008 13:47:47

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2008 : 16:46:21

I found and bought 2 surface mount indoor/outdoor speakers on ebay and put one on each side of the bulkhead, starboard speaker wire across the bulkhead to the port side, then ran both wires down the port side and through the bulkhead by the galley where the Dual car radio was mounted. Haven't needed the flush mount speakers that came with the radio. The only hole, other than 2 screw holes each for the speakers and a small hole for the wires, was one in the galley bulkhead for the radio itself. No speakers in the cockpit. don't seem to need them.

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 10:27:10

I like to listen to wind, water, family and friends, and the "still small voice" while sailing. I can listen to canned music anytime.

Edited by - on

kaferhaus
1st Mate

Members Avatar

40 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 10:47:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Even Chance
 I like to listen to wind, water, family and friends, and the "still small voice" while sailing. I can listen to canned music anytime.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

While sailing is "therapy" for me, it isn't for most people. For most it's a day on the water and at 6-7kts boredom sets in very quickly for teenagers and wives...

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 11:01:16

GEEZE NOT ONE MENTION OF MY EIGHT TRACK

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 11:03:23

It is a personal choice...I'm w/ Brooke on this one

Edited by - jerlim on 02/13/2008 11:05:02

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 12:05:52

Does anybody have any suggestions on how I can keep my needle from skipping when a wake comes through?

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 13:15:08

Dave,

How do you keep those wax cylinders from melting in the summer heat?

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 13:21:08

I'll hate you if you outbid me on this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-Portable-Phonograph-Record-Player-w-LIGHTS_W0QQitemZ140205309900QQihZ004QQcategoryZ48649QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I find a fishing weight taped to the arm keeps the needle from jumping around too much.

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 16:33:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by kaferhaus
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Even Chance
 I like to listen to wind, water, family and friends, and the "still small voice" while sailing. I can listen to canned music anytime.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

While sailing is "therapy" for me, it isn't for most people. For most it's a day on the water and at 6-7kts boredom sets in very quickly for teenagers and wives...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Put them at the helm, the mainsheet, the winches, or otherwise get them involved.

On the other hand, learning how to do nothing is an important gift in this attention-deficit world. Too many people are afraid of what they hear and see when all the distractions that keep them from paying attention are removed. As Satchel Paige said, "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits."

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 20:29:34

I guess we 'bout wrapped up this one...

Edited by - on

tchowes
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
36 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 21:42:26

Not so sure Dave. I need to find out where to install my 15" subwoofer.

Brooke has a point. There's a time and place for some silence. What cracks me up is people who buy a new boat based on the quality of the LCD monitor and stereo. These are the same people who have their music blaring while driving down the channel.

No matter how you get your music delivered, the KISS principle applies. The last thing one needs is one more item to break.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2008 : 23:14:19

I have a small GE Boombox I bought from Circuit City for about $40. I do not use it often but seems fine except for one pecularity - I noticed the batteries drain so quickly, luckily, I use rechargeables. After this happened a number of times, I figured there was some kind of miniscule closed circuit draining the batteries when the unit was turned off and put away. So...I just take out one battery to break the connection and leave it in a plastic bag next to the radio. That seems to solve the issue. For my occasional music needs, which is sometimes at the dock when doing some mtn, this small portable unit has adequate sound.

What I really need is to bring along noise-cancelling headphones, so when sailing out of the marina and near Natl Reagan Airport, I can have some peace from the landing and taking off of the planes as well as the air cannon that goes off every so often to scare birds away from the airstrips.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.