Car Stereo in Boat?

[Mark42]

My son gave me a factory AM/FM CD player from a Chrysler. Nice sounding unit when in the car, and I'm planning on mounting it in the cabin of my Cuddy Cabin w/Hard Top. So it will be out of direct weather contact. I know it probably won't track CD's as well as a marine unit, but its free, and I'm interested in finding out how well it will work.

Anyone have experience with an auto grade stereo in their boat? How well do they perform? Think it will last a few years?

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

I have had a car stereo in mine for years with no problems. As long as it is shielded from the weather, you are good to go.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Every boat I've owned except for my pontoon has had a car stereo in it and they work well if reasonable attempts to keep them dry are followed.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Thanks for the input! Sounds encouraging. The stereo will be mounted in the cuddy, so its in as dry a place as it can get. And a CD player will be a nice upgrade from the AM/FM Cassette player that came with the boat! LOL!

The cassette player even says "US Marine" right on the front. A genuine marine grade cassette player!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

One thing to me concerned about possibly, most OEM car stereos are pretty low wattage output. So it you made them with some quality Pioneer or something speakers that are made to take like 100 watts, it might not have the power to drive them. I know GM used to use 10ohm speakers or something odd like that as well.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Should be fine as mentioned
I have mine in a clear faced marine enclosement -
$12 for radio & $15 for cover

 

[arks]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Yeah, I have a cheapo car stereo on my flybridge The 'weather-resistant' cover broke off a couple years ago and I never replaced it. Sound OK (not great but good enough) with 2 speakers.
No problem yet!

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Car radio on my tug also.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Mark, I've seen your hardtop thread(great job BTW) and I believe this would look great on your rig to keep the CD player out of the elements, fog, mist, etc

I'd buy it for my rig but I have few hundred items on my prioritized list to finish before I get to the CD player

For the record I have an Eclipse car CD player that I plan on installing on the rig after I finish everything else.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Anyone have experience with an auto grade stereo in their boat?

Ayuh,... I bought,+ installed a Car stereo in my cuddy about 12 years ago,...
With the exception of replacing a couple of sun rotted speakers,...
It's still knockin' out the tunes,.. Quite Nicely...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Mark, I've seen your hardtop thread(great job BTW) and I believe this would look great on your rig to keep the CD player out of the elements, fog, mist, etc.......

.

Hey! Thats a neat cover. Definitely worth looking into.


Thanks for all the responses! I am surprised that so many use car audio in their boats. I really thought I would get slammed for even thinking about a non-marine unit! LOL!

BTW, the speakers in the aft that are exposed to weather are marine speakers installed this past summer, and they work fine with the 5 watt or so stereo that is in there now. The Chrysler stereo is going to need another set of speakers, so a pair of OEM speakers from the Chrysler will get mounted in the cuddy out of the sun and wet.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

I really thought I would get slammed for even thinking about a non-marine unit! LOL!

aaaaahhhh,... Come on Mark,...
Here at iboats We take pride in Blowin' the only use Marine crap outa the Water,...
Whenever appropriate...
After all,... 90% of the time it's Marketing Hype, not based in Facts....

Of course, We also never waste a Second, in warnin' folks when it's Absolutely Necessary that rated Marine components Must be used too...

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Only thing in a stereo on a boat that should be marine is the speakers...... other than that it doesn't matter.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Hey! Thats a neat cover. Definitely worth looking into.


Thanks for all the responses! I am surprised that so many use car audio in their boats. I really thought I would get slammed for even thinking about a non-marine unit! LOL!

BTW, the speakers in the aft that are exposed to weather are marine speakers installed this past summer, and they work fine with the 5 watt or so stereo that is in there now. The Chrysler stereo is going to need another set of speakers, so a pair of OEM speakers from the Chrysler will get mounted in the cuddy out of the sun and wet.

Good point on the speakers
I found 4 marine speakers on Ebay at a good price but they did cost more than the radio & cover togeather

 

[wired1236]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

IF you are not the type that keeps a boat out in the elements all the time, another little trick for the speakers is you can buy separate speaker grills for your speakers. They are designed to keep the water away from the speaker in case of an "accidental" spray. No, not a hose spray to the speaker or leaving your boat out uncovered in rain, (that's when you would need a true marine speaker), but just the occasional drip or splash. $20.00 at any stereo store. I have a relative that has been installing stereos for 20+ years and thats what the pros do on ski boats (that aren't kept outdoors). It also depends if you are in a high humidity or near the ocean a lot, I would put in the marine in those cases too.

 

[joe_nj]

Re: Car Stereo in Boat?

Why not just wrap the speakers in polyurethane?