Does anyone have a stereo in their bass boat?

[jkh785]

I've been looking into putting a stereo in my bass boat so I can listen to some tunes while the fishing is slow. I have a single console Nitro and I'm not really sure where I would mount the cd player or speakers. Is it ok to cut holes in the fiber glass to mount them(such as where the storage is), or is that going to harm the boats structure? I know they also make speakers that come with brackets and you can mount them anywhere, but I don't really know where I would mount those either. If anyone has any advice let me know.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Yes, you can cut fiiberglass to mount headunit but be sure you can successfully

a. fit the headunit as far as "depth" goes

b. Make sure all wires will have a way of getting from batt,speakers to headunit.

Speakers can be mounted anywhere that they have the depth to fit. Most car audio speakers work on a "free air" system nowadays except for competition stuff so standard speakers will fiy anywhere. The place where your heels would hit the base of your seat is a good mounting location provided there is depth.

Have you wired a raio before?

Next time your boat is on the trailer, swing it by your local car audio shop and ask the guys for some suggestions for mounting locations. They may just blow your mind with some of the things they can come up with. I was in the car audio install scene for a few years. Made it to the nationals in the "sound quality" class.

We've done projects that can seem crazy. My buddy "Fishman" is the national GURU of fiberglass installs actually loaded up a jet ski with audio for MB Quartz audio as a show item. Terrible sound, no chamber but just shows you that you can put the stuff anywhere.

If you find you are having trouble you can

a.  go to www.sounddomain.com and register in forum.  Some of the best in the country are here and are very willing to answer any questions you have.  Tell them "heavymetaljetta" sent you.  Rookies welcome.

b.  PM me

Good luck!

[cabela10]

I never knew boats didn't come with stereo's already installed.

[cedar1]

I had one on one of my boats, never used it, I could'nt concentrate on fishing.

[jkh785]

Thanks for the info, I've installed stereo's and speakers a few times so I think I'll be able to pull this off. I'm not wanting anything great, just something to keep me company if I'm alone and the fishing is slow. If cutting the fiberglass is ok I don't think this will be to hard of project.

[MyKeyBe]

Made it to the nationals in the "sound quality" class.

LBH, your a tweaker? ;D That's cool, but I will take four 12"s over two 10"s anyday! RFL's have all the SQ you need. Just kidding.

Back to the question.

LBH is on track. Another thing I would suggest is to make sure the head unit is supported from behind. Just bending the tabs on your metal mounting sleeve and slapping it in a fiberglass console will not last very long in a rough marine application or so I would guess. LBH and his 'glassin guru may tell you different. I have very little personal experience with fiberglass and may be way off here but I think support of the rear of the head unit would be needed in a marine application.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I would suggest one of the old Benzi boxes.  It's a box that mounts in vehicle and stereo is removed when not in use.  You can take headunit with you like your other electronics.  The box is easier to build support around. (great point by the way, boats pound up and down alot more than cars do)

Mykey-  Also ran SQL class, car has 4 12's with 2 being switchable for SQ.  Car  has a PB of 143.8db(mic on dash, windows shut)  Pretty impressive for a primarily SQ set-up (3300 watts will be 3300 watts, no matter how clean,lol)

[KYbass1276]

IMO I think I would avoid putting a radio in my boat I don't have a nice enough boat to put one in yet but when I do get one I wouldn't put a radio in.  I could be wrong but you might want to check to see if your boat can handle the extra voltage that and with the extra wires that you have to run could cause a problem latter down the road ie moisture corrosion. That and with all the extra vibration that comes form hauling and running the boat up the the water is bound to loosen something up. I would just buy a radio that operated off batterys I sure they sell some that are waterproof or you can get a dewalt that has a rechargeable battery just my opinion.

[Guest JoshKeller]

I could be wrong but you might want to check to see if your boat can handle the extra voltage that and with the extra wires that you have to run could cause a problem latter down the road ie moisture corrosion.

The current draw of just a radio using its power to power two speakers is under 5 amps 99% of the time at normal volumes.

This coming from a tweaker also. 4 Infinity Kappa perfect 12's, housed in a 1.25 cu ft/sub 1 1/4" mdf box, powered by 2 kicker 600.1 amps. 6.5" mb quart premium components each fed 170 rms through a kicker amp. Clarion Pro Audio cd/mp3/dvd player, in a 2001 s-10 extended cab.

[abelfisher]

Why not just buy an ipod or something.  You can use it fishing and anywhere else.  No need for all the install issues, etc.  Besides, one of the things that really irks me is to listen the loud sounds coming form other boats, (skiers, etc) when I am out on the water.

That being said, when I fish, the last thing I want to do is listen to a stereo system.. One of the things about out on t he water and fishing are the 'natural" sounds all around.  For me I like to get away from all the "noise" and relax and just enjoy nature at its' finest.  ..........But that's just me.  I am sure my age has everything to do with it, young fella! ;D

[FlyRod]

Much as I'd love to listen to good music (I have a degree therein) whilst angling I'd be reluctant to have a built-in unit playing in the boat. Why? (I hear you inquire.) Well, correct me if I'm mistaken but wouldn't the boat itself transmit unnatural (to the fish anyway,) sounds into the water and spook the critters therein?

Of course, one could go the headphone and IPod route, but then one might not hear another boat, off-course and dangerous, or the shouted warnings that a tsunami has somehow formed and is heading one's way. True, tsunamis rarely occur on Texas lakes, except when some drunk and his pontoon boat come too close, but you never know.

Now, while under way, I'd definitely NOT wear headphones, but speakers blaring "Ride of The Valkyries" when bounding over some waves or the theme from "Top Gun" when running WOT might be nice.

F.Rod

[BASSINAL]

I put the stereo unit in the driver's side rod box and bought speakers with a housing.  I mounted the speakers under the console on the back wall above my feet.  That way no holes had to be cut for the speakers and the wire runs were just through that one wall between drivers rod box and console.  Plus everything is hidden.  Only use it to listen to the Seminoles and Gators.  Hope this helps.

[GobbleDog]

My old Bass Tracker came with a radio.... which was broken. So I replaced it. The only times I use it is when....

#1 My Dolphins or Gators are playing.

#2 I'm fishing while my g/f is laying out.

#3 I'm fishing alone and I want to listen to talk radio.

That's about it. Most of the time, I never touch it. If I could go back, I would have bought the cheap digital radio instead of the cheaper radio with knobbs.  :

[jkh785]

Thanks for all of the input, I'm thinking more and more about just buying a portable type stereo. I've found some that have AM/FM and also weather bands, CB channels ect. I think I might go with one of those and same some money and work.

[Glenn]

I have a satellite AM/FM radio with CD changer in my boat.  It was a requirement per my wife.  She had to have a way to listen to NASCAR races while fishing.    The little black disk to the left is the antenna.  When we're not listening to NASCAR, we either have it on as background music, listen to comedy, or don't have it on at all.

Can't stand those water skiiers with the bass tubes and incredibly loud music.  It's just plain disrespectful to everyone around them.

Here's how we mounted the stereo.  The speakers are under the consols.

[jkh785]

I totally agree about the boats you see/hear on that water and they have music so loud you can hear it acorss the lake. If you want to listen to music that's great, but if other people don't want to they shouldn't have to hear it just because these people want to blast their music. My plan was just for alittle background music when I'm fishing by myself like Glenn said, and also a easy way to check weather,  things like that. I really don't even need it to play cd's which is why after reading all the responses I'm leaning toward a portable stereo. Thanks for all the great info.

[Javelin_Venom]

I have a killer stereo in my boat... Bought it for 15 bucks at Wal-Mart. I decided to just go ahead and get a little cd/cassette/radio and put it in my boat. Fits underneath the console or in a storage compartment. Runs on batteries or you can do like I did and cut the 2-prong end that goes into the wall off of the electrical cord and put an end for a car electrical outlet (cig lighter) on in it's place (just make sure you unplug it from the wall before doing this ;D ). I have two outlets in my boat that I can plug into if the batteries go dead. Works great, it's cheap, and you can store it almost anywhere. Plus you can take it out of your boat and use it elsewhere .

[topwtr81]

geez glen that's purtty ;D ;D(no I mean it it is)

I didnt' have a stereo in mine and didn't really plan on having one but sort of got one for christmas :

not really sure why, hmmm preety sure I didn't ask for one< yeah sure of that, sure I did ask for a new curado (didn't get it) asked for a ice shelter(didn't get it)

funny part is my fiance is my team partner and she got me the stereo,   still trying to figure out why

she was so excited....... seemed to think I'D really enjoy it, well maby I will ;D

[tipptruck1]

If i had a boat i would just buy a cheap boom box and carry it with me. But if i had to i would buy one of them satlite radio things that you can take any were. Iam thinking about geting one so i dont miss the nascar races. Iam sure if i can fit a 36 in x 24 and 24 in sub box in my car with a amp and two 12 in subs in my car. iam sure you can find some were to fit couple is six in speakers and a radio. Buy they way guys you can hear me coming form a few blocks away. That is if i got it truned up pass 1/8 volume. But thats only when iam cruseing around town.