AM/FM Radio

[George Probolus]

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George



gprobolus@prodigy.net

[Bill Goldsmith]

George:

When I was shopping for my stereo head (I got an am/fm/cd no cassette model) I was frustrated by the lack of selection in the "marine" models. I ended up buying a non-marinized Pioneer head and installed it in a plastic box they sell at West Marine and hung it from the liner in the cabin. If it is in the cabin and not likely to get splashed you really don't *need* to get the marinized type of unit.

I found my unit by talking to a customer service rep at Crutchfield. They have a catalog and a website. They recommended the model I got because it has the best motion damping on the CD player of all the models they sell. I learned that CD players for cars are designed for movements that are abrupt with long stretches of smooth motion. Car CD players on boats can skip due to the constant motion that is very different from a car's motion. The unit they recommended is great, and even has a remote control so adjustments can be made from the cockpit. They are extremely helpful and their prices aren't bad either. Even though they don't sell any "marine" stereos, for belowdecks installation, I highly recommend talking to them.

Bill Goldsmith
Cd27#173
Second Chance

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

goldy@bestweb.net

[Tom]

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

A friend of mine just bought a Sony "boom box" with all those features for about $ 90. It's not a marine version, but you might check that out.



TomCambria@mindspring.com

[John M]

Hi Bill,
It sounds like you have done what I plan to do. I want to install an am/fm/cass radio just above the starboard seatee in the liner. I have all of the components in hand (radio, plastic box, 1/2" self tapping screws, wire, etc). I cannot feel any flex in the liner, so there may not be much/any space between the liner and deck. My question is, how thick is the liner at this point? Is there enough space for 1/2" screws.

Thanks,
John
CD28 #346 Intrepid

George:

When I was shopping for my stereo head (I got an am/fm/cd no cassette model) I was frustrated by the lack of selection in the "marine" models. I ended up buying a non-marinized Pioneer head and installed it in a plastic box they sell at West Marine and hung it from the liner in the cabin. If it is in the cabin and not likely to get splashed you really don't *need* to get the marinized type of unit.

I found my unit by talking to a customer service rep at Crutchfield. They have a catalog and a website. They recommended the model I got because it has the best motion damping on the CD player of all the models they sell. I learned that CD players for cars are designed for movements that are abrupt with long stretches of smooth motion. Car CD players on boats can skip due to the constant motion that is very different from a car's motion. The unit they recommended is great, and even has a remote control so adjustments can be made from the cockpit. They are extremely helpful and their prices aren't bad either. Even though they don't sell any "marine" stereos, for belowdecks installation, I highly recommend talking to them.

Bill Goldsmith
Cd27#173
Second Chance

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

johnmartin55@hotmail.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

John:

When you say "above the settee" do you mean on the ceiling or down near the settee shelves? I only ask because I thought about installing into the liner on the side right above the settee and realized that's where your head goes when you're sitting!!!

On my CD27 I installed the box into the ceiling off to the starboard side, between the two cabin portlights. It's a really good mounting spot because it does not get in the way of anything there, especially my head!! Also, it's a direct line of sight for the remote control while sitting on the port cockpit bench which is my favorite place to sit.

I don't remember what size screw I used, but the liner is pretty close to the cabin top there. I remember drilling pilot holes in the liner and finding some space so the bit did not go into the cabin top. The liner is a good ~1/8 in. or more thick there, and the bracket was about 1/4" thick. So the 1/2" screws are probably the ticket for you. If you are concerned about not screwing into the cabin top, carefully drill until you are through just the liner and then use the bit as a depth gauge to see how much air (if any) is between the liner and the cabin at that location. Then you can file your screws down a little if you think you need to.

The liner is very dense and sturdy and I think it is quite capable of supporting the stereo, especially if you use four screws.

One of these days I'll post some pics of the installation--it is pretty cool!!

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance
Hi Bill,

It sounds like you have done what I plan to do. I want to install an am/fm/cass radio just above the starboard seatee in the liner. I have all of the components in hand (radio, plastic box, 1/2" self tapping screws, wire, etc). I cannot feel any flex in the liner, so there may not be much/any space between the liner and deck. My question is, how thick is the liner at this point? Is there enough space for 1/2" screws.

Thanks,
John
CD28 #346 Intrepid

George:

When I was shopping for my stereo head (I got an am/fm/cd no cassette model) I was frustrated by the lack of selection in the "marine" models. I ended up buying a non-marinized Pioneer head and installed it in a plastic box they sell at West Marine and hung it from the liner in the cabin. If it is in the cabin and not likely to get splashed you really don't *need* to get the marinized type of unit.

I found my unit by talking to a customer service rep at Crutchfield. They have a catalog and a website. They recommended the model I got because it has the best motion damping on the CD player of all the models they sell. I learned that CD players for cars are designed for movements that are abrupt with long stretches of smooth motion. Car CD players on boats can skip due to the constant motion that is very different from a car's motion. The unit they recommended is great, and even has a remote control so adjustments can be made from the cockpit. They are extremely helpful and their prices aren't bad either. Even though they don't sell any "marine" stereos, for belowdecks installation, I highly recommend talking to them.

Bill Goldsmith
Cd27#173
Second Chance

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

goldy@bestweb.net

[Bill Goldsmith]

Dear CD music lovers,

Take Tom's suggestion to heart. My experience is that installation of a stereo is alot of work and pretty expensive, even for a fairly basic setup. For many folks, a decent boom box and some bungee cords are all you need to get music on the water. I chose the permanent install because I really like high fidelity and was able to install a 300W audio amp to drive two cockpit speakers. The power is not just to obtain high volume (although "Come Sail Away" by Styx usually gets turned up), it also gives a fuller, deeper sound. It really cuts through the diesel when motoring and gives very nice fidelity that I prefer. That sound quality would be hard to obtain with a manageable-sized boom box. But for a large percentage of sailors the boom box would be a very satisfactory option if secured properly.

Bill

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.

I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

A friend of mine just bought a Sony "boom box" with all those features for about $ 90. It's not a marine version, but you might check that out.

goldy@bestweb.net

[John R.]

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

You can use a standard car stereo as long as it doesn't get direct spray. Pick one out that has a galvanized case. My Blaupunkt has a galvanized case for an example. I removed the case panels and sprayed down the inside with quality silicone spray like CRC. Don't get it on the head, capstan or belt. If the stereo has a control knob or two spray around the shafts and inside the potentiometers. Now you basically have a marinized stereo.

I have recently redone the stereo system wiring and speakers in the boat and I bought a CD changer that I was going to install vertically on the setee shelf and install the control head just below the stereo receiver that I have installed in the galley aft bulkhead next to the AC breaker panel (CD30). The CD changer was the modulator type (my stereo doesn't have CD changer controls) and after doing a pre fit before actual installation I started having second thoughts and changed my mind, took the unit back and decided to use a cassette adapter for a portable CD player. However, I never liked those adapters much because of the scratchy noise they create so I decided to take it apart (Sony) and I removed the freewheeling transport wheels that are necessary in a regular cassette to move the tape. I reassembled it and inserted it in the stereo and played a CD and it works just fine without the noisey wheels. So, I just use the portable CD player with a power adapter wired direct to the stereos main breaker and keep the player in a galley cabinet. I intend to build a small roll out shelf for the unit that can be pulled out which will be installed high in the cabinet to maintain usable space.

I saw someone makes the CD/casette/radio receivers and they are a little pricey that's why I stuck with what I had and just added the CD player I already had. I think JVC made the combo unit I was originally looking at.

It isn't necessary to worry about movement with the CD player. The boat doesn't make abrupt jarring movements like a car and the basic player I use has no problems whatsoever. I even use it in a VW camper and it has no problems in there either. My player is not a "motion" classified player, just a basic portable. Save your money. If you were in a pounding runabout then that is a different matter.

If I were installing a new stereo I would never buy a "marine stereo". Quality car stereos are just fine when installed with care.

[Chris holme]

Appreciate all the info on radios but have one further question.
Most car/boat radios these days have preset stations electronically stored and require continuous power otherwise the settings will be lost. Are these to be stayed away from?
I'm not real comfortable with the idea of leaving a battery on constantly to maintain the settings. Am I overly cautious or is there a workaround?
Thanks, Chris
s/v Feather, CD28, Annapolis



chris@annapolis.net

[John M]

Thanks Bill,

My installation is going behind and above the seatee, actually on the under-side of the side deck. It should provide easy access to route cables, etc. My problem right now is TIME. However, I just, this past week-end, finished a major project. I installed interior hand-rails to match the exterior hand-rails. This is a much needed addition to my boat. Thanks for your input.

John

John:

When you say "above the settee" do you mean on the ceiling or down near the settee shelves? I only ask because I thought about installing into the liner on the side right above the settee and realized that's where your head goes when you're sitting!!!

On my CD27 I installed the box into the ceiling off to the starboard side, between the two cabin portlights. It's a really good mounting spot because it does not get in the way of anything there, especially my head!! Also, it's a direct line of sight for the remote control while sitting on the port cockpit bench which is my favorite place to sit.

I don't remember what size screw I used, but the liner is pretty close to the cabin top there. I remember drilling pilot holes in the liner and finding some space so the bit did not go into the cabin top. The liner is a good ~1/8 in. or more thick there, and the bracket was about 1/4" thick. So the 1/2" screws are probably the ticket for you. If you are concerned about not screwing into the cabin top, carefully drill until you are through just the liner and then use the bit as a depth gauge to see how much air (if any) is between the liner and the cabin at that location. Then you can file your screws down a little if you think you need to.

The liner is very dense and sturdy and I think it is quite capable of supporting the stereo, especially if you use four screws.

One of these days I'll post some pics of the installation--it is pretty cool!!

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 #173
Second Chance
Hi Bill,

It sounds like you have done what I plan to do. I want to install an am/fm/cass radio just above the starboard seatee in the liner. I have all of the components in hand (radio, plastic box, 1/2" self tapping screws, wire, etc). I cannot feel any flex in the liner, so there may not be much/any space between the liner and deck. My question is, how thick is the liner at this point? Is there enough space for 1/2" screws.

Thanks,
John
CD28 #346 Intrepid

George:

When I was shopping for my stereo head (I got an am/fm/cd no cassette model) I was frustrated by the lack of selection in the "marine" models. I ended up buying a non-marinized Pioneer head and installed it in a plastic box they sell at West Marine and hung it from the liner in the cabin. If it is in the cabin and not likely to get splashed you really don't *need* to get the marinized type of unit.

I found my unit by talking to a customer service rep at Crutchfield. They have a catalog and a website. They recommended the model I got because it has the best motion damping on the CD player of all the models they sell. I learned that CD players for cars are designed for movements that are abrupt with long stretches of smooth motion. Car CD players on boats can skip due to the constant motion that is very different from a car's motion. The unit they recommended is great, and even has a remote control so adjustments can be made from the cockpit. They are extremely helpful and their prices aren't bad either. Even though they don't sell any "marine" stereos, for belowdecks installation, I highly recommend talking to them.

Bill Goldsmith
Cd27#173
Second Chance

johnmartin55@hotmail.com

[Jon]

I agree with John R.

I installed a Kenwood car stereo in Sovereign four years ago and it works just fine. I also installed one in my car eight years ago and it is also fine, despite living just a hundred yards from the ocean. I swear it rains salt water here sometimes. The only issue is power consumption. A 50 watt stereo takes quite a toll on the batteries. In this respect, a portable boom box has an advantage. All in all, I like my system.

Jon
s/v Sovereign
CD-25 #625



Ringj@mediaone.net

[Chris Reinke]

I have seen some great suggestions on the various radio/cd units to purchase but no one has mentioned anything about the speakers. Do the "marine" speakers actually provide better magnetic shielding as they advertise? I am planning on replacing my old AM/FM radio (a car system which has lasted over 8 years) and the old "marine" speakers. Should I spend the extra money for "marine" speakers even if I am mounting them below deck with little chance of them ever getting wet?

Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Chris Reinke
CD330 Innisfail
Hudson River, NY

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

Chris.reinke@transamerica.com

[Catherine Monaghan]

George,

We installed a Standard AM/FM/CD stereo system on Realization. This unit is capable of maintaining the presets as mentioned in one of the other posts. We didn't want the constant drain, even though it should be small, on our batteries so we didn't hook up those wires. We always listen to the same station anyway and usually don't use presets, not even in our vehicles.

We chose a marine system rather than a car system because they supposedly have better magnetic shielding in addition to moisture and corrosion protection. The speakers we chose are Poly Planars which also have a low magnetic field to reduce the possibility of interference with the compass.

Before installing this system, we used a boom box as mentioned in some of the other posts.

Whether you choose a marine or car stereo, either will work fine. But I would consider the use of marine speakers just to make sure you're getting speakers with a low magnetic field.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

I am trying to find an AM/FM/Audio Cassette/CD radio. i understand these units are available in cars but West & Boats US don't have these.
I would like to have a single unit instead of a seperate CD multi disc as this configuration will take a more space than I care to give up.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks In Advance
George

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[John R.]

Appreciate all the info on radios but have one further question.
Most car/boat radios these days have preset stations electronically stored and require continuous power otherwise the settings will be lost. Are these to be stayed away from?
I'm not real comfortable with the idea of leaving a battery on constantly to maintain the settings. Am I overly cautious or is there a workaround?
Thanks, Chris
s/v Feather, CD28, Annapolis

Chris,

I believe you will find that most radios that use a station memory circuit are negligible in current draw. If my memory serves correctly I think it is only a couple milliamps at most. I've never had a problem with current consumption by the memory circuit. I think some radios have an internal battery back-up, ask some of the dealers in your area or call Crutchfield. If you are real concerned about current loss just get a small cheapo solar charger and hook it up to your battery circuit to easily compensate for any current loss. Hook up a diode in the positive lead to prevent draw down at night if the charger doesn't have one built in. I don't think any of that extra gear is necessary though. Call the manufacturer of the radio you have or are considering purchasing and ask them what the memory circuit current draw is. You'll then know exactly where you stand and you'll not have to be speculating.

[John R.]

I have seen some great suggestions on the various radio/cd units to purchase but no one has mentioned anything about the speakers. Do the "marine" speakers actually provide better magnetic shielding as they advertise? I am planning on replacing my old AM/FM radio (a car system which has lasted over 8 years) and the old "marine" speakers. Should I spend the extra money for "marine" speakers even if I am mounting them below deck with little chance of them ever getting wet?

Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Chris Reinke
CD330 Innisfail
Hudson River, NY

I wouldn't spend the extra money on marine "hype" speakers unless they are going to be directly exposed to the weather. I use Radio Shacks Optimus PRO X33's and PRO X44's which are die cast aluminum AV speakers. They are far better than most marine speakers in performance except possibly the Bose line. They sound really great in the cabin of the CD30. I use the X44's in the main salon and the X33's in the V-berth. I use a pair of Poly Planars flush mounted in the cockpit bridge deck face wired through a 8 ohm 50 watt L-pad as a fader between the cabin speakers and the cockpit. The salon and V-berth speakers are faded using the radio fader. There is no reason to be concerned about magnetic shielding unless the speaker is close to a compass. Within 4 feet would be my guesstimate. I have one of the X44's five feet from my autopilot fluxgate (under the setee)and there is no deviation and it also does not affect my Autohelm handheld fluxgate at the nav-table about 4 feet away.

[Chris Reinke]

Your is a legitimate concern, but not one to worry about. Many lives ago, I owned a restored classic car which had a modern digital stereo system hidden in the glove box. The car would often sit for as long as 8 weeks without being started and the radio draw would not effect the battery level to a noticeable level. I would disconnect the radio when I stored the car for the winter because over a 5 month period the battery level would drop. Hopefully your boat will be getting frequent use and even after a few weeks the radio memory draw would not effect your charge.

Chris

Appreciate all the info on radios but have one further question.
Most car/boat radios these days have preset stations electronically stored and require continuous power otherwise the settings will be lost. Are these to be stayed away from?
I'm not real comfortable with the idea of leaving a battery on constantly to maintain the settings. Am I overly cautious or is there a workaround?
Thanks, Chris
s/v Feather, CD28, Annapolis