Radio and Speaker locations/97 Speedster

[Disappointment]

Greetings.
I've been very interested in retiring my boombox and installing a marine-grade audio system in my 97 Speedster, but before I go drilling in search for a position I'd like to see what others have done as far as the placement of the face unit and speakers.

So, any input?

Bonus points for anyone that can explain how I could get a VTS (Variable-Trim-System) onto my drives. Or if two 951's would fit :ack:

 

[seadoosnipe]

Engines,,,

The engines can be made to fit, but they wouldn't work without a complete electrical overhaul......everything. Not worth the few extra miles per hour over cost.

 

[robin savell lloyd]

I just installed a new stereo and waterproof housing under dash on mine. I do not think I am going to be happy with location as the housing hangs to low. the old housing fit flusher up under but was not very water proof. if you have something that works please post photos. I believe I will be changing mine.

 

[kustomkarl]

I've seen people install the marine receiver by you legs in the side panel under the control handles. I'll look for pictures to give you a view.

Karl

 

[Disappointment]

Good to know about the engines.

I used to own a 96 Sea-Ray "Sea-Rayder F-16" jetboat which had speakers mounted ankle-level in the cockpit (as you can see in these pictures..

and

Seems like a good location for speakers..

 

[kustomkarl]

That's a good location for speakers.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Old!.....

I must be old or something, cause I just don't see the need to listen to my stereo when I'm on my board or slalom (don't think I can barefoot anymore, been a long time).
The biggest reason is with the more power a stereo puts out, the more battery it eats.........I"ve been stranded on a sand bar for partying to hard and catching a buzz, listening to some Slip Knot and.............when I tried to leave..........."click, click, click".........dead battery. If I'm going out to hang out at the sand bar, I just bring my portable thumper.........
Plus, the headset gives me the ability to listen to the music when I'm ridin

 

[kustomkarl]

Heck my 200 speedster is so whisper quiet that I need something to listen to...while jumping the waves.

 

[Gunsrunner]

Stereo

C'mon Louis your not that old Yet!.
Tunes are great we all need them, when 5' in the air. Got some great jumps in today! Yes that means SHWEEET is back in the water and running well.
Tunes.
Depends on how loud you want to go. Deck and speakers are a good start, then deck and 4 speakers, then deck amp and speakers, deck amp speakers and subwoofer and so on and so on!
The more power you have going to the speakers the more clear and loud it will be. One of The bigger system i have built had 9 amps and over 16000 watts rms, this was very loud and clear. Oh yes it had 7 batteries and 2 alternators installed. Pic included
I would be happy with a good deck, 1 x 4 channel amp, 4 x speakers and 1 x 12" subwoofer. Run speakers in parrallel off 2ch of the amp and run subwoofer bridged from the other 2ch.
Remember that bass is non directional so dosn't matter where mounted but tweeters are very directional so you need to have them pointing towards you if possible. If its not possible then it may be better to use splits instead of 2 or 3way speakers then you can mount the tweeter seperatly.
If you can point the subwoofer towards the deck it will give you a 3db gain from the loading effect.
Any question's feel free to ask, worked as a manager of a car audio store for 12 years, so there is a lot more stuff i can explain.

P.S. Fit a second battery!

 

[kustomkarl]

Real nice ride! I think instead of miles per gallon we should ask how songs per mile of driving...lol

 

[Disappointment]

I do a lot of "hanging out" in a local cove/inlet that stretches about a mile inland nicknamed "the hot hole". On one side of the inlet, protecting the cove there's a sand peninsula with about 150 yards of frontage... anyway with the rising gas prices I may find myself spending more time beached on the sand with the radio playing than tooling around.

I don't think I'd be able to enjoy any sort of music while underway, except at idle...

 

[seadoosnipe]

Wow.....I agree!

Guns......what in the hell is that?..........Your right, everyone needs tunes. But I don't need to go deaf enjoying them.....LOL. I've already lost some of my hearing from my job (steam turbines, I wear ear plugs now) and the rest from all the freakin concerts I've been to in my short life; G & R, ZZ Top, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Van Halen, Styx, Heart, Bob Seger, ........and those are only the ones I remember......!
I do love my music. And I got a nice Kenwood system set up at home. Got Digital HD on my computer with MusicMatch Jukebox. But I just never saw much reason to bring them with me.................

 

[scrump]

stereo pics

Here is how my 99 speedster sk was set up when I bought it, it gets too loud for my wife, but I like it. It runs off a Clairion marine CD player w/ XM radio. The two forward speakers are 5 1/2" inch Clarions and the back is 10" Clarions, all marine. Those are powered by a 400 watt amp that is mounted under the cooler directly behind the radio.

 

[kustomkarl]

Nice clean look. Do you have an auxiliary battery to run your stereo?

 

[scrump]

No, it just runs off the two for the engines, I have never had a problem with running the batteries down. I have set out in the cove for a couple of hours, cranked it up and no problems. I always make sure to start it though and make sure that the batteries are still going every hour or so.

 

[kustomkarl]

Be sure that the battery stays charged...I bet that system would dray it down pretty fast if your not careful. The louder it gets the more power it will draw. I'm gonna update my sound system too soon I hope, but I'm going to put in an isolator and a second battery just for the system. Than no chance of doing an oops!...click click...click.
Karl

 

[scrump]

Would you be able to hook up the extra battery to the boats charging system?

 

[kustomkarl]

I believe so, I haven't had the chance to see what other people have been using so far, but I'll post the equipment I use when I do mine, with pictures. I have been adding dual batteries for customers in my custom Vehicle Store for years.

 

[scrump]

That would be nice. I would definitly add the auxillary if that were possible.

 

[kustomkarl]

Let me do some checking with my battery distributes for compatibility to the charging systems on our boats. I beleive you already havea shut off switch already, but does it have a 3 position switch. You might need one of them too (1, 2, all, off).

 

[scrump]

Just on/off.

 

[kustomkarl]

That's what I have in my 200speedster too. The switch is available from West Marine for like $50.00. It allows you to switch to different power usages.

 

[scrump]

That price isn't too bad considering the fact that you wouldn't have to worry about running down your batteries. You could also probably use a regular battery instead of the more expensive marine batteries.

 

[kustomkarl]

I would always use a marine battery, deep cycle to power the stereo as it has more in reserve power. Marine battery's are built better.

 

[scrump]

Yeah, that would be better. How long before your stereo project is under way?