Ok, we've talked about this before. Who has a radio mounted in their Snake? Where is it mounted? Do you have a remote control (wired or unwired)? Where did you mount the speakers? I've had my boat for 6 years, and dagnabit, this is the year it's getting a radio. Talk to me Snake owners. Post pics of your installation.
Sorry, I do not have one in my snake. I assume that you have passenger console.
I've seen radios mounted in the passenger console storage box.
i was thinking about putting one in mine also, so good question, hope someone can help.
I mounted my radio/CD player in the glove box with an unwired remote.
For the speaker boxes, I made some triangle shaped boxes and use 2" wide velcro strips to hold them in. I'll take some pics this weekend of the radio in the box and the speaker boxes.
I thought i would really use the radio?cd player a lot, but i really don't use it that much.
I put one in recentl that I am extremely happy with, I used the following:
Ipod, small amp, 2 nice 6.5-inch à Speakers.
Installed amp in stowage box in front of driver and one speaker there and the other in the rod locker. Both face each other in the walking area before the front casting deck and sound great. I do not have the deck extension. Yes, I cut 2, 6-inch à holes. You can buy a wire that plugs into the Ipod and converts the signal to 2 RCA cables which plug into the amp. It also allows you to play anything with a phone jack output like portable CD players and radios if you like.
I will be taking out the CD/radio player from a different boat I have to set it up this way as well.
As a quick great sounding alternative I just bought this Ipod Player at Sam's made by Altec Lansing for $99.00. This thing is sweet, remote controlled and has incredible sound like a nice Bose player would. You could just tote that thing around. It's shaped like a tube about 7-inches in diameter and about 18 inches long. More than enough for boat tunes. No radio in it though, but man it sounds great. I would have expected to pay $300.00 for that kind of quality. I did shop around and listen to what Best Buy and Circuit City had before I stumbled onto it.
I have a radio but never use it while fishing, just thought the sounds would transmit through the hull. I think an IPOD would deliver better sound since you are in an open air enviroment and you would not have to worry about spooking the fish.
Unless you are singing "RoxAnne" like Eddie Murphy in 48 hrs. Then you will spook everything!!
R.A.D.man, your set up sound great. I have been looking for a way to go to an IPOD with adequate results. It sounds like you have it right. I think I understand your set up, but can you give me more info on the amp and connections, and maybe a few pic's.
Here are the pics of the little boxes i made. Then held them in with Velcro tape. I recently did my carpet so i have not decided if i will lay the tap dowm on the carpet again. I did this to be bale to remove the speakers when on a fishing only trip, or for weather.
[img]http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7Kofrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQGQxnPexGlax v8uOc5xQQQ0JPGGQo0oGqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPGQ %7CRup6G0P%7C/of=50,590,391[/img]
[img]http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7KPfrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQGQxnPexGlax v8uOc5xQQQ0JPGGQo0PoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPGP %7CRup6G0P%7C/of=50,590,391[/img]
[img]http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7KPfrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQGQxnPexGlax v8uOc5xQQQ0JPGGQo0PeqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPGP %7CRup6G0P%7C/of=50,590,391[/img]
Naturally there are four of these. Two on the back deck and two up front.
Greg,
I'll have to take some pics for you, but here is good description of my setup.
It is really simple. Even the "stereo guys" didn't know if it would work, so I bench tested it and never looked back. The concern was wether or not the Ipod would send out a strong enough signal for the amp to play this way without going through a head unit. It does.
Here's what you need in addition to the Ipod or similar music player device:
At most electronics stores "Best Buy for instance" get an RCA cable adaptor for your music player. It is simply a cable with a headphone jack on one end and it splits to 2 RCA plugs on the other, they sell different lengths. Mine is long enough so that I can stand on the front deck and still adjust it, but usually just sits on the drivers dash. This sends the music to the amp. Plug it into the input side of the amp and the headphone jack of the Iopd. One of these wires also works if plugged into an input in your home stereo for playing the Ipod at home.
Wire the amp as is typical:
Black ground wire hooked up under dash (nothing special, I have no interference from the engine charging system).
Red positive wire hooked up to the accessory switch (battery positive) on the dash. I have to turn on the power switch then accessory switch for the music to play, I can turn off the amp with just the accessory switch. It will hiss at a very low volume if turned on without music playing so having the ability to just turn off the amp is the way to go.
I also installed a power port in the dash for a 12volt Ipod car charger but it is not necessary. My 30gb Ipod plays all day and more on its own, my Ipod Nano will run out of power in a day and that's what I started with so I installed the power port. If you put in a power port, get a good stainless steel one made for marine use. A higher amp rating is better (if you have a choice) for stuff like spotlights, etc.
Then just install speakers and attach speaker wires to the amp as per the instructions and do a good job of setting the amp level gains to provide the best sound. This also protects your speakers from getting blown by your friends when thay turn up the volume on your Ipod all the way by accident. I usually set it so I get maximum sound out of the speakers without distortion between 3/4 and full total volume on the Ipod.
For speaker selection, I bought good 6.5-inch speakers with poly speaker material and rubber surround material. This way, they hold up to rain really well. I never buy marine speakers. The grills are also important. Find a speaker with a grill that has very small holes to help keep water from getting in. Also drill a small drain hole in the bottom of the grill for final installation if it looks like it could hold water without it.
The amp just need to match the quality of the speakers. I suggest 60 watt minimum rated speakers, 90 watt is better, then just get an amp in that combined power range. For instance, 2 90w speakers powered by a 2 channel amp rated at 180watts minimum RMS rating. Don't look at the peak rating. Other good features on the amp are bass and treble adjustments along with the typical gain controls. Having frequency crossovers in the amp is not necessary since you will be just running the 2 full range speakers. I used an older Kicker Amp I had, it is out dated, and no longer available so the model number which I do not know off hand does you no good. My system is similar to the one described above.
Feel free to ask me questions, I no expert, but I know my way around this stuff farily well. I would be happy to help you or anyone else get going.
Thank you for the detailed explanation. And thanks to FishMoore for the pics. Now I have to start collecting parts (I don't even have an ipod yet). When I get everything, I think I'll do as you did, and do a full bench test first. Thanks for all of the info.
I have one mounted in my glove box as well, but the speakers I mounted in each rod locker facing me as i am driving. Have amp in passenger rod locker. This work well when at full throttle or just cruising along.
This isn't a Cobra, but a Champion. I had this done a few weeks ago.
http://www.bbcboards.net...72910
Reply With Quote