Waterproof hi-fi

[pugwash]

Any thoughts on a good-value FM radio/CD that resists damp? The Clarion ones I found on the net seem mighty expensive. I just want something simple for the cabin, which is pretty small, and I can take it home in the winter. A portable would be okay but I'd like a 12-volt supply and none of them seem to have that.

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[pvb]

Do you really need a waterproof one?

I don't know how damp your cabin is, but most people I know just use an ordinary car stereo for cabin installation. Waterproof units are usually only put in the cockpit. My 10-year old Pioneer in the cabin still works fine.

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[FullCircle]

There was a bloke at the Ipswich Boat Jumble (Trade Stand) who was flogging moulded covers with a clear flip down front which would assist in anti-splash. They werent fortunes to buy, and I guess he will be at the major jumbles come this closed season.
I used a cassette on my motorbike as well as my boat, and didnt have any probs for as long as they were fitted, about 4 years. Besides they are so cheap from the breakers yards for cars, they are peanuts to replace, bearing in mind cars are now scrapped because of financial reasons rather than rot these days!

Jim

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Why not get one of those shower CD / Radios from Argos, they are waterproof.

not 12v, but some NiMH batteries and 12v charger would sort that.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[vyv_cox]

My boat has had a car-type Blaupunkt set on board for 8 years. I then installed a Sony set with CD changer, this has been in for 2 years, the Blaupunkt being consigned to the forecabin. Never had a problem with either.

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[dhouston]

I agree with the above. I put (also a Blaupunkt) into a boat and it worked fine for 12 years. The so-called marinised ones often boast they are sprayed with silicon to prevent the damp but in practice these things, made for the far more arduous conditions of the car market, are fine for the interior of all but the most leaky-decked boat.
More importantly I would want a version with Long Wave, for Radio 4 forecasts, and with a suitable masthead aerial you'll be picking up the two LW-only forecasts happily in N Portuguese waters. You can get an aerial cut (a steel whip that is) for 198kHz you know and that'll pull that signal down like witch. So don't go for the am/fm version, make sure it's LW - there's the cricket as well on that!
Also, rather than cut holes into the furniture for the ubiquitous car speakers (before you really know the acoustics of the space) why not source some good little bookshelf speakers rated at 4Ohms. Some have lugs so you can hang them on a screw. These will give you better sound quality (mostly) and you can run one (or both!) out on deck with some extra cable if you need to.

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[DavidTocher]

I'm impressed that your boat can carry a whip cut for 198mHz. Tha works out for 1/4wave antenna at about 375m.

There is no need to have a matched antenna unless one is transmitting. One can of course match any length antenna to a transmitted/receiver with a gizmo but most domestic radios don't require a matched antenna and if one was fitted it would overload the front end of the set.

David

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