How to Buy a Marine Stereo

The main difference between a common car stereo and a marine stereo is that the marine device has some kind of water resistance. Corrosion-proof materials are vital to a marine installation and the CD player needs to be sealed with a gasket. The stereos also need to be more powerful--they are competing with engines and waves.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide on your budget. Marine stereos range in price from under $100 to more than $500.

2. Once you have chosen a budget, decide on the level of water resistance. Water resistance can range from splashproof to water resistant to full waterproof that can include International Protection Ratings (IP). Some stereos have an IP rating of IP65, which means they are protected against dust with a limited ingress (meaning there is no harmful deposit) and protected against low-pressure jets if water is from all directions. Again, limited ingress is permitted.

3. You should then decide on sound quality. Try to listen to the units you are interested in. Other considerations would be whether you need satellite-ready functionality. Satellite radio can allow for radio reception at a greater range than FM radio. You can add MP3 player or CD functionality. Or, you can add a remote control, either wired or wireless.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider installation issues. You can use your existing VHF antenna for AM/FM. This may give your boat a cleaner--less of a battleship--look than multiple antennas.

References

• West Marine

Resources

• Selecting Marine Stereos and Speakers

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