Installing stereo help

[boatboy132]

Hey guys, so i want to buy a stereo for my boat but never installed one and not sure what i need, there was never one on the boat before? has anyone done this

[Faster]

Google is your friend!

Stereo Installation Tips | Boating Magazine

[chef2sail]

Not knowing what kind ( size boat) this is for and whether it is inside or outside installation its hard to say. If the unit will remain inside and nor be affected by the marine environement your best bet is to not spend the extra money for a marine on and go to get a good car stero one from Best Buy or a like place. If speakers are outside they need to be weatherized also.

Dave

[Silvio]

Listen to Faster and Chef2sail.
Also, make good electrical and speaker connections, for this you should search sailnet and do as Mainsail recommends.

When I bought the boat we had a car stereo and a 5 disk cd changer in her.
FWIW I didn't mount an antenna externally and find my fm reception to be fine most of the time using a small antenna below decks. Also, we use the iPod inside the radio probably 95% of the time aboard but you know your own usage I'm sure.

Here's what I ended up with

Marine radio mounted below, wired remote to be mounted above (haven't done that yet as I have to order a new navpod) , speakers under the stern seats with heat shrink gel filled connections all around.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by Silvio

FWIW I don't mount an antenna externally and find my fm reception to be fine most of the time using a small antenna below decks....

I've always had good luck running an antenna lead to a chainplate or shroud connection, use the rig as an antenna!

[T37Chef]

I'll second the use of a non marine stereo if mounted inside. the technology will change faster then the stereo will corrode. an iPod hook up and a remote control is very useful...even if the remote is infrared type.

[jimrafford]

Also buy one w/ blue tooth so you can use your smart phone for music. It's nice to be able to control the music from the cockpit w/ your phone.
Jim

[T37Chef]

hey that's cool...didn't know about the Bluetooth stereos

[SHNOOL]

If I might suggest, inexpensive marine stereos exist aftermarket if you look... ebay, amazon, and buy.com...

Also, Shakespeare makes a VHF/FM splitter/sharer I just installed that works wonders for using 1 antenna for 2 devices. It forces a "switch" that turns off FM when you broadcast VHF. Seems to work pretty well.
Shakespeare VHF / Stereo Switch

I happened to find a radio that had no CD in it. Just used an SD card, or USB, with a single AUX port, of course with FM/AM. I think the whole setup, wire/speakers/radio/splitter worked out less than $100. It's not gonna wow an audiophile, but it'll crank out a decent amount of tunes.

Just make sure to put it on a fuse... DC is very easy to install. Red=+ Black=-/ground and life's good.

[eherlihy]

Here's an idea that you may not have thought of, and many will disagree with, but here goes: DON'T Install a stereo! Instead, buy a portable, battery powered radio (we used to call them "boom-boxes") and use that. They are: cheaper, easier to install, many are waterproof, you won't be putting unnecessary holes in your boat, you won't have to de-install when it breaks, you can bring it in the cockpit, on the beach, where ever you want...