Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

[beckspop]

So, I'm the proud owner of a new to me Bayliner capri with the 85hp Force outboard. I am understanding that because an outboard has a flywheel stator, it is possible to add and keep charged a audio system. Is this true? If so, what am I in for? Any tips would help, especially from any capri owners. If it helps, it's a 84 capri 1600BR with the 85hp Force. Thanks

 

[Boatist]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

Yes the motor can recharge your battery after starting.
Yes it can run a small low power radio.
Can it run a high wattage stereo with big power amps?
Most likely not. You need to find how many amps your motor puts out at crusing speed and then see what the draw of the Stereo is at your volume level.
Then you will know if the motor can keep up.

 

[beckspop]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

Thank you, I'll check into that. Suposing it can, what do hook to? Batt, key, some point on the motor? I'd assume there's some sort of fuse block or panel, but I know what happens when we assume... There's a fused red wire headed to the battery and somehow the fishfinder hooks up? Not really thinkin of some wake tower shore pounder, just some tunes to enjoy.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

You do not hook anything to the engine.
You do connect power to +12 volts and ground wherever you find it.
+12 volts and ground can usually be found at the console since the gauges need power to operate. That power comes from the ignition switch. The fuse panel however gets its feed directly from the battery so that's the logical place to make the connections.
Not to pick nits but you don't charge an audio system. You charge the battery that powers the audio system and any other electrical devices on the boat.
You engine probably has a 12 - 16 amp charging system and that output is at wide open throttle. To put that in perspective, if you ran accessories for one hour that drew 16 amps from the battery -- you would have to run the boat wide open for a minimum of an hour to charge it back up (provided the alternator output was indeed 16 amps).

 

[rwidman]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

So, I'm the proud owner of a new to me Bayliner capri with the 85hp Force outboard. I am understanding that because an outboard has a flywheel stator, it is possible to add and keep charged a audio system. Is this true? If so, what am I in for? Any tips would help, especially from any capri owners. If it helps, it's a 84 capri 1600BR with the 85hp Force. Thanks

Your boat has a battery and an electrical system right? Connect the radio to the electrical system, not the motor. Don't forget the circuit protection.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

My 85 HP Force has a maximum charging output of 7 amps, with a cut-in motor speed of 1000 RPM. Yours is likely the same. Not a lot of juice.

My boat came with a radio from the factory, which I replaced last weekend. Mine is wired to terminals on the under-helm fuse block and negative buss. It has power whenever the battery is connected to the electrical system. Since my ignition switch doesn't have an "Accessory" position, I prefer this setup. If I wired it to the ignition switch feed, I would have to have the key in the "Run" position to listen to the radio even with the motor off, which I definitely wouldn't want to do.

 

[beckspop]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

Thank you Gentlemen, alot of good advise. I'm glad this forum exists, it's been hard not being able to pick my dad's brain (he was very good at this stuff). Now if someone could just solve my 20 pole woes. Can't believe NOBODY makes a 20 pole tach with as many force motors as there are. Just from Bayliner alone, not to mention all the rest!

 

[convergent]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

I don't think you are going to have any problem with a radio in a boat unless you intend to add a bunch of amps and run it wide open all the time. If you are like me, your radio is not going to run your battery down very fast.

Just to be aware, the one I just installed had three different power lines to be connected for different purposes... main power, always on power, and illumination. I tried initially just connecting main power and discovered that all three had to be connected for it to work at all. I ended up connecting main and illumination to my accessories feed, and then ran a separate fused line directly to the battery for the always on feed. Supposedly that last one has a very small draw just to keep the memory of the radio. This is working out really well so far. I have an accessories switch on my dash which i have to turn on for the radio to work. The cool thing is that it remembers what it was doing before it was turned off when I hit the accessories switch again it goes back to the same channel, track, etc.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

Thank you Gentlemen, alot of good advise. I'm glad this forum exists, it's been hard not being able to pick my dad's brain (he was very good at this stuff). Now if someone could just solve my 20 pole woes. Can't believe NOBODY makes a 20 pole tach with as many force motors as there are. Just from Bayliner alone, not to mention all the rest!

I picked mine up used from eBay (Teleflex International Red series), then bought new speedometer, fuel gauge, and voltmeter in the same series.

 

[beckspop]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

Thanks, I look for one. I'd almost given up.

 

[Mongo]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

beckspop,

Read back over convergent's answer about the various power leads on the radio. The problem you face is not getting power for the radio, but whether to set it up as a constant drain on your battery.

The connection of a radio in a boat is similar to a car. But there are some special considerations because you don't want anything in the boat drawing even small amounts of power when the boat/motor isn't running.

The radio will run off the battery, not the motor. When the motor is running, the battery is charged by the motor, so any power drain, within reasonable limits, is replaced. But consider when you disconnect your car battery for replacement. Typically, you lose your preset radio stations. So the radio is drawing tiny amounts of power all the time from your car's battery. In addition, even when the radio isn't on, most light up in some way when your car lights are on. So you have 3 leads - 1 for the stations when car is off, 1 connected to the lights and 1 for when the on/off switch is on - when the radio is actually being used.

If you connect the radio to an always-on circuit from the boat battery, you must be sure to turn the radio off when not in use. Avoid ever turning the volume down or you'll find your boat battery dead the next time you use the boat. As mentioned above, many boats don't have an accessory key setting, so you're best off running the radio off an always-on circuit. This is how most running lights are wired - if you run at daybreak and forget to turn them off before trailering, you'll run the battery down.

One device that's very handy for wiring accessories in is a terminal strip - get one at Radio Shack labeled as "European-Style Terminal Strip". Much cheaper than the same thing from a marine dealer - as just as good if you mount it under the dash or in battery enclosure away from water.

Oh and don't forget the fused line for the main radio power. Also at Radio Shack, get a wire with a plastic in-line fuse, 12 volt. It'll be a red wire with a white plastic holder halfway.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

..........

One device that's very handy for wiring accessories in is a terminal strip - get one at Radio Shack labeled as "European-Style Terminal Strip". Much cheaper than the same thing from a marine dealer - as just as good if you mount it under the dash or in battery enclosure away from water.

Oh and don't forget the fused line for the main radio power. Also at Radio Shack, get a wire with a plastic in-line fuse, 12 volt. It'll be a red wire with a white plastic holder halfway.

I spent most of my career as an electronics technician. We had a name for anything purchased at Radio Shack - "may pop" as in "may pop at any time". Radio Shack was our last resort for supplies.

If you get your electrical or electronic supplies for your boat at Radio Shack, you can count on having electrical problems for the life of your boat. You'll do better at Walmart. I know what I'm talking about.

If you want to make an electrical or electronic installation that will last, spend the money and buy brand name "marine" materials from a marine dealer. Blue Seas, Anchor, Marinco, etc. You can visit your local store or buy on-line if you would rather. It's cheaper in the long run to do it right the first time rather than doing it over and over with inferior materials.

 

[beckspop]

Re: Adding a radio to an outboard boat? what do I need to know?

Thanks for all the input guys!