There's a hole in my ...

[PhillM]

...interior woodwork where a previous owner installed a Fusion sound system head. He cut a hole in varnished woodwork to install it. Now the radio/cd player has died, I need to decide what to do with the hole. A patch would look odd.

I don't listen to CD's much (if at all). I do listen to R4 and to podcasts and spotify, with stuff downloaded to my phone / ipad. The old system did have an AUX cable so I could plug my devices in.

I have been looking at cheepo car radios, yeah, I know they will fail but at £20 I could buy one a year for a decade and still save money. But they seem to need a cage to 'click' into.

Any suggestions?

 

[paulajayne]

Get a decent DAB one. Bluetooth etc.

 

[PhillM]

Get a decent DAB one. Bluetooth etc.

Agreed, but how do you mount it? The old one came with front flush mounting, but all I have now is a hole in thin ply.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I bought one of these a couple of years ago, its very good, with integrated speakers.
Speaker Bluetooth In-Dash SD 12V FM MP3 Player TF AUX Car Radio Stereo USB 1 Din | eBay

 

[PhillM]

I bought one of these a couple of years ago, its very good, with integrated speakers.
Speaker Bluetooth In-Dash SD 12V FM MP3 Player TF AUX Car Radio Stereo USB 1 Din | eBay

That looks good, how did you mount it?

 

[lustyd]

You would generally mount the cage on the back of the ply. Don't worry, you're not going mad I could see you ask every time above!

 

[Sandy]

That looks good, how did you mount it?

And where did you get the bit of wire that connects it to the antenna.

I have a AIS/VHS/FM splitter that uses the VHF antenna.

 

[john_morris_uk]

We have a Fusion Marine stereo radio and we’re very happy with it. Eg:Fusion MS-RA55 Compact Marine Stereo w/Bluetooth Audio Streaming (010-01716-00)
Other dealers available.

 

[john_morris_uk]

And where did you get the bit of wire that connects it to the antenna.

I have a AIS/VHS/FM splitter that uses the VHF antenna.

We just have a bit of wire stuck in the antenna socket.

 

[Sandy]

We just have a bit of wire stuck in the antenna socket.

I am heading to the west of Scotland this year and know that would never work for FM radio (actually I'm also looking for a radio with LW so I can get the shipping forecast and listen to TMS)

 

[Northern Star]

I bought a Kenwood radio with DAB and bluetooth from Halfords for around £100 and it came with the mounting cage to fit in my wooden console. It also has a USB for connecting a music library but I tend to just use it with bluetooth from my phone.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

That looks good, how did you mount it?

Its a standard car radio size, so just a whole in a panel. You also need an internal aerial like this one, to install at the back of the panel, out of sight.
Internal, Inside Mounted Car Radio Audio Fm AM Reception Aerial MG 5052370506250 | eBay

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

The cage is just four sides of a thin steel box and comes free with all radio units. It has a tiny external flange that stops it dropping through the hole you mount it in, and a load of seemingly randomly-placed tabs that you choose between to bend out to hold it in place. The radio unit just slides into that. It's not really good enough on its own though, and most units have a peg or stud on the back that you can arrange a strap to for more support.

 

[Poignard]

...interior woodwork where a previous owner installed a Fusion sound system head. He cut a hole in varnished woodwork to install it. Now the radio/cd player has died, I need to decide what to do with the hole. A patch would look odd.

I don't listen to CD's much (if at all). I do listen to R4 and to podcasts and spotify, with stuff downloaded to my phone / ipad. The old system did have an AUX cable so I could plug my devices in.

I have been looking at cheepo car radios, yeah, I know they will fail but at £20 I could buy one a year for a decade and still save money. But they seem to need a cage to 'click' into.

Any suggestions?

Hang a picture over it.

 

[dansaskip]

...a Fusion sound system . Now the radio/cd player has died

I have been looking at cheepo car radios, yeah, I know they will fail but at £20 I could buy one a year for a decade and still save money. But they seem to need a cage to 'click' into.

Yes they do that Fusion sound systems - there are lots of reports on the internet about them just dying.
For a piece of kit that is supposed to be "Designed for marine use, our water resistant & true-marine stereo" they have a remarkably short life
I replaced mine with car radio and yes as you say accept that it will not last long.
Use the standard cage that comes with the radio as others have said and arrange some brackets or similar to give it more support.

We have a Fusion Marine stereo radio and we’re very happy with it.

You must be very lucky that yours is still working

I liked mine while it worked but after two years it just stopped and Fusion are no help at all. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy Fusion.

 

[pyrojames]

Don't underestimate car radios! I fitted one in my previous boat in Sydney in 1998. It's still in the boat, having sailed to the UK, and spent the last 10+ years sailing the med.

 

[Neeves]

Our car radio, with CD player, is now 20 years old - and still going strong. But maybe its just Australian installations that are good . As its now antique - maybe its now worth more than when bought.

Jonathan

 

[Greenheart]

Hang a picture over it.

Or make it into a bookshelf for one thick book. A bible, maybe, sticking out an inch or two but shoved in spine-first...

...you can be sure every visitor will ask what it is, and if you want to be alone, it'll get rid of them in a hurry.

 

[RivalRedwing]

An excursion into the world of DAB car radios some years back revealed that they were somewhat power hungry when compared to their non DAB brethren, I guess this is not such an issue in a car; is that still the case?

 

[ashtead]

If looking for a cheaper radio I would try for one with a usb charger port and Bluetooth whichever car radio you opt for -I’m sure there are many pioneer versions out there which happily serve in many yachts. This will enable charging of the iPad /iPhone/iPod plus being able to stream music on the device from around the boat . Putting in the cage/frame to hold the average car radio is quite simples and I guess utube videos abound. Our fusion is working happily ( slight thread drift)and it’s best feature is the drawer for the iPod with loaded music plus the amp being used for tv sound to avoid the tinny flat tv sound ( you can also listen to tv in cockpit if you wish) that said apart from interfacing I’m not certain fusion kit is essential by any means. I guess you might fix a tv or other monitor screen over the hole or enlarge to take a chart plotter screen or just buy a nice teak frame holder for the iPad and stick it over the hole ?