How to Install Speakers in a Boat
You just mounted the stereo on your boat's dashboard and now you want to mount speakers so that those wonderful sounds can be heard. The first question you face is, what kind of speakers? No matter what brand you select, they should be for use on a boat. The second question is, should they be flush mount or box speakers? Flush mount has only one advantage--they can fit in odd spaces--but you have to cut a hole in your boat and isolate the speaker from dead air, they are extremely directional, and you cannot move them around.
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Things You'll Need
- Speaker wire
- Wire cutters
- Plastic cable 1-piece raceway, 3/4-by-1/2 inch 5 foot lengths, adhesive backed
- Hacksaw, with fine-tooth blade
- Adhesive-backed 4-inch square Velcro hook and eye material, to secure speakers in place
Instructions
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How to Install Speakers in a Boat
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1
Decide where you want your speakers. Boat speakers are extremely directional, which means that, unless they are pointed at you directly, you won't get the full sound. In spite of this, don't hope that you can mount the speakers at the stern and be able to hear them over the engine--the best locations are at or forward of a line drawn amidships, across the beam of the boat. With box speakers, you can turn the speakers if, say, you plan to party on the back deck while anchored.
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2
Lay out the plastic cable raceways along the path from the stereo to the speakers. The best path will go from the stereo directly to each side of the boat, then aft to the speakers. The best path will also minimize tripping hazards. Use the hacksaw to cut the raceways to fit. Once the path is established, peel the covering off the adhesive strip on bottom of the raceway units and carefully place them on the deck, pressing down on them so that they adhere firmly.
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3
Open the hinged tops of the raceways and lay the speaker wire in them, one side at a time. Use enough speaker wire to make the connection, plus a few "extra" feet on the end where the connection will be made to the stereo unit, to allow some flexibility at a later time.
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4
Close and lock the raceway tops. Attach the speaker wire to the speaker connections on the stereo and to the connections on the back of the speakers.
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5
Peel the covering off the adhesive on the the Velcro pads and stick one part to the bottom of the speaker, one part to the deck. Set the speakers in place on the pads. The speakers, being amidships, can be moved around and turned on the Velcro pad to provide full musical coverage over the boat's deck, while staying securely anchored inside the boat.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use nearly any electrical wire for speakers; however, it is recommended you consult with your audio supplier for the best match to your particular speakers.
Boating is potentially hazardous and appropriate caution is advised.
