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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

cockpit speakers

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dasreboot
Admiral

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804 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/11/2015 : 04:00:25

I was thinking of installing speakers in the cockpit so I could better hear the radio. However the thought of cutting large holes in the cockpit seams wrong. Maybe I should just get over it and cut the holes. What have others done?

Todd Lewis
Eowyn 87 TR/WK C25 #5656
ARWEN 84 TR/SK C25 #4031
www.mainsailsailingschool.com

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 04:21:40

I use small, but good sounding speakers, and put them in the combing boxes. Instead of cutting holes the size of the speakers, I installed 1/4" banana plugs that have covers. Put them up high in the combing box interior to minimize getting wet. The plugs have about 6" of wire to allow them to sit near the front of the combing box openings. I got everything at Radio Shack a long while ago.

Chuck

Chuck Shaw
Confetti
Cat 25, hull#1
1976 FK/TR

Edited by - cshaw on 09/11/2015 04:24:16

dasreboot
Admiral

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804 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 04:35:08

quote:
Originally posted by cshaw

I use small, but good sounding speakers, and put them in the combing boxes.

Chuck

you just stuck the speakers up in the cubbyhole? how did it sound? are you careful about putting stuff in there?

Todd Lewis
Eowyn 87 TR/WK C25 #5656
ARWEN 84 TR/SK C25 #4031
www.mainsailsailingschool.com

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 04:40:08

I watched a boat begin sinking when water went through the speakers in the cockpit. They were below the cockpit seats. I believe I would use wireless headsets or Something similar.

1988 WK/SR w/inboard diesel Joe Pool Lake
Hobie 18 Lake Worth

Life is not a dress rehearsal. You will not get another chance.

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 04:45:49

https://www.bose.com/products/speakers/wireless_speakers/soundlink-color-bluetooth-speaker.html

bluetooth to the iphone on pandora... and if you get a phone call/text it comes in over the speaker. Both the phone and the speaker plugs into a cigarette plug for charging.

Best part is I keep it in my backpak for camping etc ( and it is not sitting on the boat rusting )...

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - redeye on 09/11/2015 04:55:09

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 04:58:39

quote:
Originally posted by dasreboot
you just stuck the speakers up in the cubbyhole? how did it sound? are you careful about putting stuff in there?

Well, at 69 my hearing is not perfect, but since the speakers sit at the opening of the combing boxes, they seem ok to me#128563;. Winch handles are my only real threat to them in there. But since my phone, handheld VHF, etc are also in there I guess we are a little careful. I am thinking I will get a small boom box that plugs into my phone and use that since I can place it anywhere aboard and ashore.

Chuck Shaw
Confetti
Cat 25, hull#1
1976 FK/TR

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 05:01:05

I like the Bluetooth idea. Wires can be a pain!

Chuck Shaw
Confetti
Cat 25, hull#1
1976 FK/TR

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 05:26:03

There is a plus to having the speakers in the coaming boxes. The box really enhances the sound from small speakers.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 07:02:16

<< The box really enhances the sound from small speakers. >>

The bose speaker is not that small. Great sound. If you get a chance check them out.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 07:14:22

I bought a pair of speakers on Ebay that I mounted to the bulkhead facing the companionway. Surface mounted with 2 screws. connected them to the built-in stereo mounted in the bulkhead behind the galley sink. That provided plenty of sound in the cockpit. Like these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-Dual-4-LU43PW-3Way-Waterproof-Box-Boat-Home-Outdoor-Indoor-Speaker-System-/201216816570?hash=item2ed974f5ba

Also, Verizon has a really nice Bluetooth wireless stereo speaker. It's cylindrical shaped and can be suspended by rope from anywhere you want to place it.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/accessories/ultimate-ears-boom-wireless-red/
Comes in black too.
Then, there is the Bose mini speaker:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/accessories/bose-soundlink-mini-bluetooth-speaker-2-carbon/

DavidP
1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52
PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess"
Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN

Edited by - dmpilc on 09/11/2015 07:22:17

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 07:27:50

My PO put speakers in the coaming boxes.

However, I later relocated new 6" speakers to the large bulkhead holes made by the signet gauges. I would never have mounted them there if the holes didn't already exist. But, they do look nice there now.

1989 C-25 TR/WK #5894
Miss Behavin'
Sittin' in LCYC on Canyon Lake, Texas

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 08:13:52

My installation of speakers in the cabin led to an exciting nighttime sailing adventure! I mounted speakers inside of the companionway bulkhead port and starboard facing forward.

The next day two friends arrived in the afternoon for a weekend sail down the bay about 15 miles to a marina in Annapolis and back. After dark I planned to navigate into the busy harbor using my Garmin GPSmap76, but that was the day that dropping it for the thousandth time caused teh GPS to finally give up the ghost. So I got out the paper chart and looked at the compass on the port bulkhead for directions between markers into Annapolis harbor. This is usually very simple. But with the speakers mounted directly behind the compass, it gave crazy readings due to the speaker magnet.

So we dropped the sails a half mile out and motored in to the marina in Spa Creek looking very carefully at each of the city lights, boat lights, navigation markers, and traffic around on all sides. Luckily it was a clear night. We made it ok.

We had a great time spending the next day trapseing around Annapolis and then sailing back on day 3. After that I moved the speakers to the forward bulkhead in the cabin and also got a GPSmap76c which has now worked fine for me over the last 4 years.

If you have a compass mounted on the bulkhead, that is NOT a good place for speakers!

Sometimes these days I use a battery-powered DKnight MagicBox bluetooth speaker in the cockpit when I can't hear the cabin speakers.

Happy musical sailing!

JohnP
1978 C25 SR/FK "Gypsy"
Mill Creek off the Magothy River, Chesapeake Bay
Port Captain, northern Chesapeake Bay

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 08:42:45

<< It's cylindrical shaped and can be suspended by rope from anywhere you want to place it. >>

I love it.. You could run it up the flag halyard

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5369 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 14:45:47

I have a Scosche Boom Bottle which is a little like that and it sounds good. It doesn't sound like my Bose, but that doesn't run on 12VDC and probably would not like the salt air environment for long. But the BoomBottle does the trick.
Google recently came out with a similar gizmo that works with your Android phone and has a phased array microphone that provides very good voice quality for calling friends, recording sounds and dictating to Google voice.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2015 : 14:39:21

I picked up this awhile ago and it's been great! Super cheap also. Waterproof and Bluetooth even though the Bluetooth often doesn't work. Doesn't matter as have a carabiner attached to it and usually hang it on my lifeline with an aux cable. Battery never runs out but if it does, I have the usb charger in my coaming box. I really want to install a stereo but haven't really had the need, just want.

G-Project G-DROP Waterproof Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Submersible, IPX7, and We... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OPH6UPI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_SPj9vbA4M7KXG

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2015 : 20:41:17

I mounted a set on the stern rail using white plastic brackets designed to hold accessories on an Edison pedestal.

Frank Hopper

Akenumber
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2015 : 13:03:38

Mine has 6x9 aft of the coming pockets. I thought it was a dealer option, but maybe not. Anyways, I have Seen many boats like this and they look and sound great. If the grills are too big it makes opening the fuel locker a little more difficult. All said I would pick the same place in the future if I had the option.

Ken
San Diego
84 C25 SR/FK 4116
The KRAKEN

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2015 : 15:21:47

On my '82 I had them in the cockpit sides aft of the pockets and they were fine but down below the sound is loud. I preferred my stern rail mounted speakers on my '89. They could be cranked without drowning out people below. I could use much nicer speakers on the rail too.

Frank Hopper

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2015 : 21:04:41

Captain Rob & Admiral Alyson
"David Buoy"-1985 C25 SK/SR #5053

bradminda
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2015 : 22:17:17

I to hate cutting holes in fiberglass. I built a small speaker box that sits just under the tiller that holds the speakers I ran the wire back to the gas tank enclosure. The speaker box is removable and when I want to I just set it in place and plug the wires in. works great and I didn't need to use marine speakers as they are not exposed to the weather all the time

dasreboot
Admiral

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804 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2015 : 03:57:48

So I have to decide. hanging them off the rails is nice, but I fear they may get in the way. Cubbeyholes may work well. Putting a box in the unused space under the tiller may also work well.

Todd Lewis
Eowyn 87 TR/WK C25 #5656
ARWEN 84 TR/SK C25 #4031
www.mainsailsailingschool.com

Jan Briede
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2015 : 06:12:13

I love my waterproof Bluetooth speakers. I have a sailing/boating soundtrack on my phone and enjoy it, particularly when on anchor during cocktail hour!

Jan Briede
Beagle
1979 TR #1242 FK
L-Dinette
Yorktown, VA
Blog -- http://vanomad.blogspot.com/

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2015 : 05:51:40

Timely.. One of my friends brought a product their company just released ( apparently only on ebay just yet ) and we tested it this weekend.. blue tooth and worked well from the boom. I was very happy with the sound, and mostly liked the idea of running it up the flag halyard so there is no one place in the boat where the music becomes too loud..

I ordered one but she said she wasn't sure of their market price yet.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2015 : 07:52:23

I guess it depends on what you listen to. A blue tooth speaker as discussed cannot provide the fidelity that my enclosure speakers can. Just look at my woofers! I think mine were three way speakers. So if you listen to NPR or rap get blue tooth but if you really want Cat Stevens to tell you about the Longer boats A Com'n you had better get real speakers not just noise makers. Music matters to me.

Frank Hopper

Akenumber
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2015 : 18:25:10

Nice post Frank. I agree. Although my music might sound like rap. I call it surf, rock, rap.

Ken
San Diego
84 C25 SR/FK 4116
The KRAKEN

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2015 : 09:34:20

Well Frank I'd love the fidelity of my 450 watt fender amp but for lack of that I've listened to hours of Buckethead on the Bose Soundlink and I still love the sound. Which is why I'd recommend it...

Wouldn't know about the rap.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

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