Boat Audio

[ibBoatingJimi]

Adding an amplifier to my boat. Would I need a second battery specifically to power amp...or will 1 dual purpose battery do the trick?

 

[rallyart]

You don't need a second battery. However, if you are stopped and listening to your tunes the battery is being drawn down. If it is too long then you will not be able to restart the engine. It is for this reason that many people add in a second battery, often a deep cycle, on an isolated circuit to run accessories, like the stereo.

 

[thumpar]

I run an amp and only use the single battery. On my old boat I had 2 batteries and an amp. There was a battery isolator so the stereo couldn't kill the starting battery. I plan to do the same setup but with an ACR on the current boat.

 

[H20Rat]

Depends on how much key off run time you want. I've run some very large stereo systems on a boat with a single battery, but they could also drain the battery in under 15 minutes if you tried hard enough.

Also, it depends on what kind of engine you have. I'm somewhat hesitant to build a large stereo in a boat with a stator equipped outboard. Just not enough power to charge everything, and you will end up frying the stator if it is maxed out all the time (which I have done, numerous times, in my boat!). In that case, look for the most efficient speakers and amps you can find.

 

[ibBoatingJimi]

Depends on how much key off run time you want. I've run some very large stereo systems on a boat with a single battery, but they could also drain the battery in under 15 minutes if you tried hard enough.

Also, it depends on what kind of engine you have. I'm somewhat hesitant to build a large stereo in a boat with a stator equipped outboard. Just not enough power to charge everything, and you will end up frying the stator if it is maxed out all the time (which I have done, numerous times, in my boat!). In that case, look for the most efficient speakers and amps you can find.

Ok. Thank you for the information.
All I know about the motor is that it may be

MerCruiser
Alpha One / ThunderBolt Ignition
4.3L 175 2bbl (MerCarb) 262 CID.

I looked online and that's the only one to come close to what mine looks like. Its an inboard motor.

Needs an exhaust manifold. It cracked and has been sitting in my buddies driveway, covered up for about 3 years. Just gave it to me the other day for my birthday.

When wiring up a second battery, I have seen a switch is needed to I can combine both batteries if needed but can also tell what battery to use.

 

[Maclin]

Just curious, are you putting in a stereo before you know if the engine runs or not? A cracked exhaust may only be the first thing you find that needs replacement. If that cracked due to a freeze event then the engine block could also have been affected.

 

[thumpar]

Ok. Thank you for the information.
All I know about the motor is that it may be

MerCruiser
Alpha One / ThunderBolt Ignition
4.3L 175 2bbl (MerCarb) 262 CID.

I looked online and that's the only one to come close to what mine looks like. Its an inboard motor.

Needs an exhaust manifold. It cracked and has been sitting in my buddies driveway, covered up for about 3 years. Just gave it to me the other day for my birthday.

When wiring up a second battery, I have seen a switch is needed to I can combine both batteries if needed but can also tell what battery to use.

You can use an ACR and it will automatically keep the main battery charged and then you can use the second battery for accessories without the worry of not having a charge in the main battery. Get the engine running before going to far though.

 

[rallyart]

When wiring up a second battery, I have seen a switch is needed to I can combine both batteries if needed but can also tell what battery to use.

You also need to isolate the charging circuit using a device that can be found on iboats. Search in products for "battery isolator". The combiner switch chooses which battery is in use by the boat. A separate circuit for the two batteries and their uses is more effective.

 

[H20Rat]

MerCruiser
Alpha One / ThunderBolt Ignition
4.3L 175 2bbl (MerCarb) 262 CID.

I looked online and that's the only one to come close to what mine looks like. Its an inboard motor.

Needs an exhaust manifold. It cracked and has been sitting in my buddies driveway, covered up for about 3 years. Just gave it to me the other day for my birthday.

Depending on the specific model it is between 65 and 105 amps of alternator output, so more than enough for a halfway decent stereo. But like the other posters said, figure out if the engine is good before you spend a cent on the stereo!

Most of the time a cracked manifold is going to mean cracked block.

 

[JoLin]

Needs an exhaust manifold. It cracked and has been sitting in my buddies driveway, covered up for about 3 years. Just gave it to me the other day for my birthday.
.

Bear in mind that giving away a boat can be a good way (and sometimes the only way) for someone to get rid of it without having to pay to have it hauled away and scrapped.

It might be a viable project, but you need to know what you're getting into before it becomes your headache. You've been advised that a cracked manifold could well be the tip of the iceberg as far as repairs. Given that you appear to know very little about boats, please be very, very careful about putting it in your name before you have some idea of what you're getting. Once you own it, it's out of his driveway and into yours- maybe forever.

At least move the sound system down to around number 200 on your 'to do' list.

My .02

 

[oldjeep]

Just curious, are you putting in a stereo before you know if the engine runs or not? A cracked exhaust may only be the first thing you find that needs replacement. If that cracked due to a freeze event then the engine block could also have been affected.

Gotta have tunes while you are spending weeks trying to figure out why the boat doesn't work

 

[Maclin]

Gotta have tunes while you are spending weeks trying to figure out why the boat doesn't work

Heard that :drum:

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Yep, amplified tunes first seaworthiness second. Some of us were young once we tend to forget. I put a Muntz Quadraphonic 4 channel 8 track in a 1969 T-Bird that cost me more than 1/2 of what I bought the entire car for. First 8 track I bought was by Mountain (Mississippi Queen, ya know what I mean)Good times and tunes had by one and all.

 

[Maclin]

Old Ironmaker, the old timers at least need to try to connect to themselves when at that age and give some advice, which we would rarely have actually acted on...

My first 8track was The Doors, then John Kay's Steppenwolf. And they were still on the charts so to speak. (yikes)

 

[ibBoatingJimi]

Gotta have tunes while you are spending weeks trying to figure out why the boat doesn't work

No, I am getting my information together so when It's time to tackle these projects, i will already know what to do.

The boat has been in Atlanta Georgia area at the time of crack. It gets cold here but not freezing. So fingers are crossed that a cracked manifold is all I find

 

[ibBoatingJimi]

Bear in mind that giving away a boat can be a good way (and sometimes the only way) for someone to get rid of it without having to pay to have it hauled away and scrapped.

It might be a viable project, but you need to know what you're getting into before it becomes your headache. You've been advised that a cracked manifold could well be the tip of the iceberg as far as repairs. Given that you appear to know very little about boats, please be very, very careful about putting it in your name before you have some idea of what you're getting. Once you own it, it's out of his driveway and into yours- maybe forever.

At least move the sound system down to around number 200 on your 'to do' list.

My .02

I already knew what I got myself into...I've known him for a long time...and this boat was purchased for his brother whom passed away 4 years ago. It's last been in the water 3 years and he hasn't wanted to get rid of it due to sentimental value. Its in my driveway, and is now my headache...and will do whatever I have to do to get it running. When I have an idea (such as the tunes) I am curious about gaining knowledge. It's obviously not something I do until that boat is running

 

[JoLin]

Good to hear. Good luck with the boat.

 

[ibBoatingJimi]

Thanks for the help all!