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Speaker enclosures

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5371 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/12/2010 : 16:11:19

For all the handy woodworkers out there, instead of mounting my stereo speakers in holes cut through the cabin bulkheads down below, I'd like to build a pair speaker boxes made out of teak.

I could mount the speaker boxes almost anywhere in the boat on hangers under the window area inside the cabin, on the bulkheads or somewhere near the galley. If I found that location inconvenient or provided an unbalanced sound, I could rearrange one or both speakers.

Now, I can buy 1" x 6" or 1" x 8" solid teak, but it costs an arm and two legs, and it's kind of thick and clunky. I'd prefer 1/2" thick material.

Is any kind of teak plywood or laminate available that I could use to build the boxes? Or is it possible to slice a 1" thick boards into 1/2" thick boards on a table saw?

I want enclosures that are about 8" x 10" by 3.5" deep.

Suggestions?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2010 : 16:43:11

Bruce, rather than go through all the trouble of making speaker enclosures wouldn't something like these work just as well? http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/aphidepaspp1.html

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2010 : 17:39:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Or is it possible to slice a 1" thick boards into 1/2" thick boards on a table saw?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">A band saw would be a better tool for this . . . followed by a pass or two through a planer.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2010 : 18:25:57

Plywoods are available with teak or a hugh variety of other woods for the face ply in both interior and marine qualities. I used birch plywood with a teak stain for a project on my last boat, and it was beautiful,

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5371 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2010 : 21:25:49

Scott, I like the prices (per pair) and the specs for the speakers, and I might consider using them in the cockpit, but I would like to retain the wood-trimmed interior in the cabin.

For instance, I created a teak enclosure/bracket for the radio, so I'd like to remain consistent with the speakers.

Dave B., so where can I get the teak veneer plywood. Last summer, a dockmate showed me a piece of 1/2" veneer plywood that I thought about for the speaker enclosures. But the guy is in FLA till May, so I'm on my own.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2010 : 21:50:43

If you're going to buy 1" thick teak, keep in mind, that that 1" dimension might actually be 3/4" (EG a 1x4 is actually 3/4" x 3.5"). If you then use a 1/8" thick blade on your table saw, you've now down to 5/16" thick on each side. A bandsaw is much-much better for re-sawing wood, and if you put the sawn side on the inside of your speaker enclosures, no one will ever see it.

However, as others have stated, you can simply buy teak plywood, although it might not be that easy to come by where you are. There are other options though, it's pretty simple to buy luann door skins (Philippine mahogany) which will be large enough to make several enclosures from.

To locate the plywood in your area, call some of the local hardwood shops and ask around. There are only about 2-3 places in the Seattle area that carry specialized plywood, and for two of them, you kind of have to know that they exist, they don't advertise that I'm aware of.

Edited by - delliottg on 03/12/2010 21:54:39

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2010 : 22:52:01

I don't know where you can find it in your area, but a web search for teak plywood will give many places to order it. A local search for marine plywood might might find a place that carries or can order it.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2010 : 10:42:26

Your marina undoubtedly knows of carpenters who work on boats, and carpenters who work on boats know where the wood is. The only question is whether they'll tell you!

Luan ply should work for you--it's cheap, and from the same general family of trees, although it might be harder to work for furniture-grade joinery. If you can't find "teak" stain, try a mix of something like cherry and golden oak, and test it on the luan.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 03/13/2010 10:44:31

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2010 : 08:41:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 . . . Luan ply should work for you--it's cheap, and from the same general family of trees . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">As nice of grain Luan has (a thin veneer of mahogany,) I would have never thought to use it for anything where a high finish was desired (I've always used it for underlayment.) Then a friend applied it as veneer for parts of the interior of a 28' sailboat he is building. After applying a teak colored stain, the color and grain are gorgeous and after 7 coats of polyurethane it looks absolutely outstanding.

As my father used to day, "Whoda thunk it?"

Edited by - OJ on 03/16/2010 04:54:43

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5371 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2010 : 19:39:19

Dave - I don't have a bandsaw, only a tablesaw

I did locate a small scrap of what looks like Luan with a teak veneer on it as OJ described.

I have found a lumber store locally who may have it, or may be able to order it.

The trick is to get the joint right with plywood, but I could use a 3/4 round trim piece and use a router to cut an inside corner to cover the unfinished edge.

For the interior, I plan to use teak oil or Deks Olje on the teak.

Dave B - it's funny you should mention mixing stains - I've done so with pretty good success in the past except for one thing: It's very, very difficult to repeat a mixture for the next time you need to match the combo.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2010 : 20:19:48

Get with the guy parting out a C25, and have him rough cut his original teak faced 1/2"plywood bulkheads down for shipping to sizes you can work from.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2010 : 20:18:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 I did locate a small scrap of what looks like Luan with a teak veneer on it as OJ described.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Luan is the veneer--it's a mahogany. Home Dopey (among others) has luan-veneered plywood.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5371 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2010 : 17:35:24

Dave, I've used Luan plywood for floor underlayment projects because of its stiffness.
I've never thought about using it for cosmetic purposes

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2010 : 09:40:40

I made mine out of particle board in an afternoon, and painted them. The speakers are old cockpit speakers. I made my own cover out of a nice wool piece I picked up at Jo Ann fabric for $0.50. I put eye bolts in the speakers and eye bolts in the bulkhead. I use a wire tie to secure the speaker to the bulkhead (wire tie through the eye bolts). They sit on the foam cushions, and don't move when the boat heels, yet are easily removable.

Sounds great. Now you probably want something to look nicer, and that is fine, but if you put them on the bulkheads, make sure they won't move and make them removable.

Oh the stereo is an old car cassette player that has been put in a waterproof box and is in the quarterberth. I play an iPod through it with a casette adaptor. It's been in there about 15 years. It goes to show that you don't need to pay extra for a "marinized" version.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5371 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2010 : 19:24:07

Jim,
I like the way you think. I am taking a slightly different tack, but am making the audio system semi-permanent: radio, speakers, power and Ipod/XM slide in and plug in. And just as easily, unplug and slide out.

I posted my approach in the audiophile topic on the general forum.

Once complete, I plan to post some photos.

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