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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Speaker mounting ideas....

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limey156
1st Mate

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89 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/06/2010 : 09:42:01

Hello all, i was browsing around the archives reading up and came across this thread.... http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true& TOPIC_ID=18160& SearchTerms=teak,

which had these pictures:

Now i had an idea for installing a stereo system on my boat which was pretty similar to how this depth sounder is mounted...i wanted to get two swing mounts placed similar to this so i could either have my speakers nestled back in the corners of the cabin, projecting into the interior, or swing them out and have them facing the cockpit if i want to 'jam' out there. On some other boats i looked at there were speakers in the boxes either side of the cockpit but they looked weathered and not very shipshape in there imho, plus took up space.

<b>the pro's:</b>
only have to buy 2 speakers, and power 2 speakers, for less power draw.
get music in/outside
protects speakers from elements
keeps speakers out of the way

<b>the con's</b>
adding complexity/clutter to my boat
have to buy 2 swing mounts
have to drill through the bulkhead there to mount...? will have the bolts/screw showing from the cockpit?

any ideas? what speakers would mount and work well? i am starting from scratch with the radio too, the original radio(which doesnt work) is all that is in my boat, i want FM and an aux jack to input ipods/my phone. shouldnt be too hard to find.

thinking about a swing mount like this http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/16175-swing-mount-60lb.html

Sun Dancer
1980 C25 SR/SK #1992
Hammock Island Marina, Chesapeake Bay.

Edited by - limey156 on 05/06/2010 09:44:28

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2010 : 12:42:11

there are plenty of options - and opinions - about the best way to do this, one way to get the best of both worlds (sound in and out)is to mount the speakers on the cabin bulkhead, in the corners, up high, facing aft...then it's simply a matter of volume for how far the sound travels.

Edited by - jerlim on 05/06/2010 12:44:52

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2010 : 12:47:41

One disadvantage to the swing arms is that they block the companionway - especially if you have two of them.
I installed one for my gps & depth sounder and really like it, but it has to be dealt with whenever I want to go below for something. It's not hard (twist knob and swing), but still its a pain.

And on the cost, I would assume speakers are cheaper than the swing arms.

Right now I only have speakers on the bulkhead by the dinette/head. I can turn them up enough to hear in the cockpit without a problem (and without annoying other boats), but its too loud for anyone sitting in the cabin then. I have been looking at alternative mounting places for a set of cockpit speakers - possibly in the combing wall above the cockpit benches. I have also seen some speaker housings mounted to the stern pulpit rails.

Hopefully this thread generates some great ideas...

Edited by - Unsinkable2 on 05/06/2010 12:48:23

limey156
1st Mate

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89 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2010 : 13:00:09

I thought about just putting 2 on that fwd bulkhead, jerlim, but i figured i would then have to crank it to get the sound where i want it, in the cockpit. and it would deafen anyone who went below. my idea would keep the sound reasonable, and i could have 'one speaker swung out, the other inside' for even sound, or swing both out and not have to crank it and use a lot of power if i just want sound in the cockpit....

Unsinkable2, i thought about that, and would try and set up the speakers so that when swung into the companionway they barely intrude into the walkway. i would then have the speakers setup and angled so that the one on the port side would be pointing diagonally to the starboard side of the cockpit, and vice versa.

an alternative to the swing arms i was thinking about would be to 'hang' the speakers from say a hook in the ceiling back in the same corner, and then have it setup whereby i could unhook and rehang the speakers easily under the pop top and point them in any direction 360* to get music in the cockpit, foredeck, wherever i want. but that does not seem as secure or stable. cheaper though!

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5397 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2010 : 18:05:00

Most sound systems provide both front and read speaker pair outputs, so you can mount Left-Front and Right-Front inside the cabin, and Left-Rear and Right-Rear in the cockpit. This way you can independently adjust inside and outside loudness levels.

For added punch, its a good idea to add a subwoofer somewhere down below where you can "feel" it.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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1893 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2010 : 01:16:27

I mounted my cabin stereo speakers in the main bulkhead as many others have done. I designed and fabricated acoustically correct speaker housings for each, mounted inside the head compartment. The one by the sink is a bit intrusive. The housing behind the marine head is pretty well out if the way. I mostly singlehand, so deafening crew in the cabin while listening in the cockpit isn't a problem. (At my preferred listening levels, the cat naps in the quarterberth, undisturbed.)

For cockpit speakers, I've considered custom built coaming pockets with small outdoor speakers inside them -- out of the way and out of the weather.

The portable speakers with trailing wires idea isn't bad. you could include tie points on the boxes to lash them down wherever.

A classic BAD idea is 6" speaker holes in the cockpit -- an invitation of water getting in at least during driving rain, and perhaps lots of it, from a boarding wave or knock down.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 11:00:40

I plan to put two of mine just forward of the cockpit pockets. I don't see why water would ever penetrate the speaker or its hole if well sealed. But I don't plan to get submerged either.
They would have to be weatherproof.

For the inside, the PO has two speaker boxes in the upper corners of the bulkhead. I'd like to remove them for aesthetics and put 2 new speakers under the port/strbd seats.

I would only worry about a speaker consuming power if you're a cruiser. Otherwise, 2 deep cell batteries should power 4 speakers for days.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 05/19/2010 11:01:46

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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1225 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2010 : 12:27:43

I have two in the bulk head that were (poorly) installed by the PO and I got these for a wedding present. I'd like to see if they fit in the coaming compartment. I've also thought about having detachable mounts in the cabin and then the cockpit.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-AW390BL-Indoor-Outdoor-Speakers/dp/B00141CTO4/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2010 : 13:46:24

I mounted 2 speakers in the upper corners of the bulkhead facing aft, didn't want them in the cockpit. Radio produces plenty of volume for us. Ran the wiring along the same path as the boat's electrical wiring. Radio is mounted in the bulkhead behind the galley.

Edited by - dmpilc on 05/20/2010 13:46:41

OJ
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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2010 : 04:59:47

Guess I've always viewed space as a premium on a C25 . . . hence, my preference for recessed speakers - love our Bose!

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Tom Gauntt
Navigator

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204 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2010 : 12:24:34

Here's what I went with:

and:

That's 103.1 WRNR, Annapolis' Alternative Rock, on the radio dial. www.wrnr.com

I'll most likely add a subwoofer soon.

Edited by - Tom Gauntt on 05/21/2010 12:26:06

Voyager
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5397 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2010 : 19:21:06

I just mounted this 200W West Marine radio (bought it in January for $99 on sale) on the starboard side just in front of the bulkhead. I built a some custom-made teak enclosures to house the radio and components. It handles AM&FM radio, CD, USB with MP3s and I can attach my XM or iPod through the line level input.

The placement of the radio and speaker

Closeup of the radio faceplate

At this point, I'm still trying to completely conceal the wires and run a switched power supply from the main panel. Note the fat black wire -- this is the antenna lead the connects to the rear starboard lower shroud.

But the sound really fills the cabin. Beats the heck out of the sound of the portable radio.

I have a second set of enclosed speakers that I will hook up with RCA connectors to the radio so that I can place them on the seats in the cockpit. I might run a remote distribution box for the speakers.

I don't plan on mounting the cockpit speakers permanently, as I don't need any more holes in the boat. But on a long run, it will be nice to have some tunes playing in the cockpit.

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