I got a Seaworthy AM/FM stereo CD player as a gift. It comes with 2 waterproof speakers. I've been thinking about how I want to install this unit but I'm not sure yet. Before I start drilling any holes that I later may be sorry about, I figured I ask for some ideas. Firstly, the unit is about 7" wide X 6" deep X 2" high. The speakers are separate and are about 4" in diameter. I'm sure I'll want to install the unit in the cabin. The speakers I'm not sure about. I'll want to listen while sailing but I don't like drilling more holes in the walls of the cockpit lockers to mount speakers because I'm not sure how watertight they can be made. I'm not worried about the speakers mind you but water coming over the stern on rough days into the cockpit can find its way below pretty quickly if there are any weak spots. I read in one of those "things that work" columns in one of the sailing magazines how some guy hollowed out a pair a teak winch pads and fitted the body of the speakers into that and then hung them from his stern rail. No holes and portable. I think I can fit the main unit into one of the sections above the port settee. Just cut out a hole and fit it in there and connect it right up to the distribution panel. I don't think I need to go out and build a cabinet, even though that's one way to do it. By the way, do you hook up the FM antenna to your VHF antenna using some sort of splitter, or do you just mount a separate antenna. Frankly, I'll probably use it mainly for compact discs so the FM isn't all that important. Thanks for any ideas.
Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27 #166
Setsail728@aol.com
AM/FM Stereo CD Player, CD27
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Antenna splitters....
Captain Kaplan,
Honored Sir and on Hanalei, I installed a Shakespear antenna splitter about 3 years ago. It doesn't seem to affect VHF range at all, and the FM/AM reception is great. Much better than having a AM/FM car antenna laying in the after locker in the cabin that another owner used! You will need the appropriate connectors to cut into your VHF antenna lead, but that shouldn't be a problem.
About the speakers, remember the COMPASS! Most speakers have LARGE magnets, if too close to the compass, you will go to the North Pole instead of to NapaTree Beach, or worse yet, miss the randeveous at Smugglers' Tavern!
Fair winds Sir, I remain...
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
Honored Sir and on Hanalei, I installed a Shakespear antenna splitter about 3 years ago. It doesn't seem to affect VHF range at all, and the FM/AM reception is great. Much better than having a AM/FM car antenna laying in the after locker in the cabin that another owner used! You will need the appropriate connectors to cut into your VHF antenna lead, but that shouldn't be a problem.
About the speakers, remember the COMPASS! Most speakers have LARGE magnets, if too close to the compass, you will go to the North Pole instead of to NapaTree Beach, or worse yet, miss the randeveous at Smugglers' Tavern!
Fair winds Sir, I remain...
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
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Warren Kaplan
Re: Antenna splitters....
Captain Stump;D. Stump, Hanalei wrote: Captain Kaplan,
Honored Sir and on Hanalei, I installed a Shakespear antenna splitter about 3 years ago. It doesn't seem to affect VHF range at all, and the FM/AM reception is great. Much better than having a AM/FM car antenna laying in the after locker in the cabin that another owner used! You will need the appropriate connectors to cut into your VHF antenna lead, but that shouldn't be a problem.
About the speakers, remember the COMPASS! Most speakers have LARGE magnets, if too close to the compass, you will go to the North Pole instead of to NapaTree Beach, or worse yet, miss the randeveous at Smugglers' Tavern!
Fair winds Sir, I remain...
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
Thank you, Sir, for your eloquently stated seafaring advice. Such authority cannot and will not be ignored in the coming project. As for going to the North Pole instead of NapaTree Beach, alas I've been to neither and I fear that will continue to be true this season. A pity!
Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27
Setsail728@aol.com
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Brian W.
Re: AM/FM Stereo CD Player, CD27
The compass warning is a good one. When I was about 12 our family was sailing to Block Island and it was my shift at the wheel. Since everyone else was napping or reading below, I thought I'd bring the speakers (they were movable) up to the cockpit to keep myself entertained. Visability was such that land could not be seen in any direction, so I just kept the compass heading I was given. About an hour later my Father came up to check our status. He had checked the position on the Loran and commented "this can't be right." He took some hand bearing readings, then looked down at the speakers, picked them off the cockpit table and watched as the compass spun wildly back to Magnetic North. I'd been driving for an hour in the wrong direction, and as such was not too popular that day.
As far as mounting the stereo itself, if you don't wish to build a cabinet, get an Under Dash Installation Housing (273789) from West ($16.99) or Crutchfield.com and mount it under an eve in the cabin.
Brian
As far as mounting the stereo itself, if you don't wish to build a cabinet, get an Under Dash Installation Housing (273789) from West ($16.99) or Crutchfield.com and mount it under an eve in the cabin.
Brian
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Bill Goldsmith
Re: AM/FM Stereo CD Player, CD27
Warren:
I installed a system last year on Second Chance. Here is what I did:
Head: I bought a white plastic housing sold by West Marine and installed the stereo in the housing. I hung the unit from the ceiling of the cabin about half way between the two portlights. I ran power and speaker wires in coil tubing down and behind the liner above the settee shelves to neaten the look. I used a splitter for the antenna and it works fine.
Speakers: I purchased fully enclosed waterproof speakers and mounted the brackets on the stern pulpit with zipties. I ran the speaker wires up through the pulpit and out holes near the speakers which I grommeted with rubber grommets.
I like my installation as it addresses several major concerns, which you, too have voiced: No holes drilled in the boat (except in the stern rail, for the speaker wire exits). The speakers are about nine feet from the compass, hanging on the stern rail. The biggest pain in doing the installation was snaking the wire through the stern rail, but it can be done.
Bill Goldsmith
goldy@bestweb.net
I installed a system last year on Second Chance. Here is what I did:
Head: I bought a white plastic housing sold by West Marine and installed the stereo in the housing. I hung the unit from the ceiling of the cabin about half way between the two portlights. I ran power and speaker wires in coil tubing down and behind the liner above the settee shelves to neaten the look. I used a splitter for the antenna and it works fine.
Speakers: I purchased fully enclosed waterproof speakers and mounted the brackets on the stern pulpit with zipties. I ran the speaker wires up through the pulpit and out holes near the speakers which I grommeted with rubber grommets.
I like my installation as it addresses several major concerns, which you, too have voiced: No holes drilled in the boat (except in the stern rail, for the speaker wire exits). The speakers are about nine feet from the compass, hanging on the stern rail. The biggest pain in doing the installation was snaking the wire through the stern rail, but it can be done.
Bill Goldsmith
Warren Kaplan wrote: I got a Seaworthy AM/FM stereo CD player as a gift. It comes with 2 waterproof speakers. I've been thinking about how I want to install this unit but I'm not sure yet. Before I start drilling any holes that I later may be sorry about, I figured I ask for some ideas. Firstly, the unit is about 7" wide X 6" deep X 2" high. The speakers are separate and are about 4" in diameter. I'm sure I'll want to install the unit in the cabin. The speakers I'm not sure about. I'll want to listen while sailing but I don't like drilling more holes in the walls of the cockpit lockers to mount speakers because I'm not sure how watertight they can be made. I'm not worried about the speakers mind you but water coming over the stern on rough days into the cockpit can find its way below pretty quickly if there are any weak spots. I read in one of those "things that work" columns in one of the sailing magazines how some guy hollowed out a pair a teak winch pads and fitted the body of the speakers into that and then hung them from his stern rail. No holes and portable. I think I can fit the main unit into one of the sections above the port settee. Just cut out a hole and fit it in there and connect it right up to the distribution panel. I don't think I need to go out and build a cabinet, even though that's one way to do it. By the way, do you hook up the FM antenna to your VHF antenna using some sort of splitter, or do you just mount a separate antenna. Frankly, I'll probably use it mainly for compact discs so the FM isn't all that important. Thanks for any ideas.
Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27 #166
goldy@bestweb.net