Stereo Speakers in the cockpit

[Gerry Connolly]

I purchased a Mirage 32 last fall (could have been any boat for that matter), and when I went to upgrade the audio system, I discovered that the speakers in the cockpit had completely desintigrated and that there were essentially 2- 6 1/2" holes in my cockpit, not good. Are there any marine grade speakers on the market that are enclosed so that you don't have to rely on a plastic speaker cone to keep your boat from filling up if the cockpit is pooped? Anyone else run up against this problem?

[speciald@ocens.]

There are many companies that make outdoor speakers - search the internet. They don't have to be "marine" but they should be salt protected (ie - gold plated posts).

[Alberto]

I have fix-mounted speakers in the main cabin and V-berth, and enclosed type (Poly Planar MS7500) in the cockpit. I've attached rubber hook clamps to the brackets of the Poly Planars, so I can clamp them to the railings in many different positions. They connect through a waterproof electrical connector in the deck to a switch that allows us to select between the V-berth and cockpit speakers (it would be the "rear" speakers of the CD player, the "front" speakers are the ones in the main cabin). It only takes a couple of minutes to set them up. This arrangement has worked perfectly for us.

I did not like the idea of having surface mounted speakers in the cockpit because of those large holes. If having to install such type of speakers, I would build some sort of internal fiber-glass enclosure to prevent eventual flooding.

Alberto

[SabreKai]

I'd be inclined to either put them in shallow lockers of some sort to keep water off them or fill in the holes and go with portable ones in a nice case with leads going into a watertight coupler. That way you can take them below in rough weather or in shady ports where they might get nicked.

Sabre

[daddle]

Bose cockpit speakers sound great and seal the hole with a tough plastic cabinet behind the speaker. Amazon...

[S/V Antares]

For speakers that extend into a locker use a tupperware type tub on the backside. Cut a hole in the lid and screw it on the backside of the locker. That way you can take it off if needed.

[Gerry Connolly]

I thought of something like the tupperwear bowls behind the speakers, a bit worried how they might sound. The bose 131's look promising but expensive and hard to find in Canada.

[daddle]

Originally Posted by Gerry Connolly

The Bose 131's look promising but expensive and hard to find in Canada.

Amazon delivered them to me in Palau in just a few days. Canada should be easy. The price is well worth the performance and durability.

[Gerry Connolly]

I think I'll bite the bullet and order the bose 131's as I have to fill in two big holes in my cockpit and I just don't see anything else out there that will work, besides building waterproof enclosures behind the speakers.

I'd rather be sailing.

Thanks all.

[Blue Stocking]

The true test is can they take an hour of Barry White's "Can't get enough of your love,baby"

[S/V Antares]

The big issue with pannel mount speakers in a cockpit is that most installations point directly at each other. Thatsw basicly noise cancellation. Fiberglass resonates very nicely so decent speakers with reasonable base response will work well. I have 3.5 in. watterproof Poly planar speakers in the winch pockets and a waterproof box subwoofer under the cockpit.

[S/V Antares]

Quote: "The true test is can they take an hour of Barry White's "Can't get enough of your love,baby"

Carefull, That's what "They" use at Guantanimo. Works better than waterboarding.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

Quote: "The true test is can they take an hour of Barry White's "Can't get enough of your love,baby"

Carefull, That's what "They" use at Guantanimo. Works better than waterboarding.