Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

[djpoling214]

I recently bought a 77' Regal Cuddy Cabin and I'm looking to put a Marine Stereo in the boat - not so much for the radio, but for CDs or IPOD.

Anyway, the boat never had a stereo hooked up.

How hard would it be to install a marine stereo in a boat that never had one installed?
Will I need to rewire the boat? Or do I just use the harness it comes with and run them wires to their designated places? If so, where are their designated places?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

You install the head unit where you want it. You use the wire harness that comes with the head unit. The head unit requires +12 volts and ground for power. You connect those wires to a 12 volt and ground source (wherever that is on your boat). You connect the station memory wire to a constant on 12 volt source if you want to retain memory settings. You install the speakers wherever you want them on your boat. You run the speaker wires in the harness to where the speakers are. You extend those wires if necessary. You see -- it is no different than if you were installing it in a car.

 

[djpoling214]

Re: Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

You install the head unit where you want it. You use the wire harness that comes with the head unit. The head unit requires +12 volts and ground for power. You connect those wires to a 12 volt and ground source (wherever that is on your boat). You connect the station memory wire to a constant on 12 volt source if you want to retain memory settings. You install the speakers wherever you want them on your boat. You run the speaker wires in the harness to where the speakers are. You extend those wires if necessary. You see -- it is no different than if you were installing it in a car.

thank you! sounds easy enough!

 

[nikon]

Re: Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

If all your going to do is use it for an ipod, just buy an amplifier. Hook the out from the ipod up to the amp directly then speakers to the amp. Will save you some money and install time, and if you want to eventually install a radio it'll just hook up to your existing amp.

 

[saikman]

Re: Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

Silvertip did quite a good job with explaining it. It is indeed the same concept for car or boat. A friend of mine was in the same situation and found a few marine audio supplies online. Marine radios and audio are usually splash proof so I would suggest you stick with those over regulars.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

As stated above, nothing to it. Don't forget the inline fuse.

 

[mercman2]

Re: Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

Much easier than a car install good post.

 

[DanMC]

Re: Installing a Marine Stereo... HELP?

Hi,
Here is what i installed in our aluminum boat that wasn't meant to have a stereo period...., so we installed a Sony Marine head unit,for speakers we installed Alpine Marine speakers,for AM/FM radio reception we installed a Shakespeare antenna...all this was done by wife and i and it works like a charm....the head unit has an audio input so it takes an Ipod like nothing....reception on the huge Canadian lakes is second to none same for the quality of sound...if we can be of any help ....we would love to help you,BTW for the HD unit we used a gimbal to add extra protection from UV and stuff.......ohhh, dont't forget to fuse the works and make sure it's protected in some sort of an enclosure, we used a Pelican brand to house the main braker and fused,stereo remote,main electrical shut off remote/battery saver,USB adapter,voltage tester...
Dan and Fam