Waterproof ipod amp & speakers for the dinghy?

[Greenheart]

Thinking ahead towards the day, many months from now, when the Channel won't be too cold to risk capsizing in...

...does anyone recommend any particular portable waterproof equipment for amplifying iPod/phone-stored music while at sea? Water resistant won't be good enough - it needs to be fully waterproof, submersible in fact. And the speakers need to be removable - or, sod's law, they'll be removed from the dinghy park.

I don't much want the type of cheap lightweight kit, available from supermarkets. Is there a manufacturer that makes something specifically for small boat use?

 

[Jenaline IV]

I have been looking for a while and not found anything that is completely waterproof and suitable for a dinghy. I can only suggest a smartphone (because the iphone/ipod touch speakers are pathetic) with half decent speakers and a waterproof case. However, battery life then becomes an issue. I have an external battery which extends the life for a few hours when being used but then the case starts getting very crowded.

Thinking a little bit further a field, what about a shower/bath radio with one of those FM transmitters on the ipod/smartphone? Not sure how long they would last in the marine environment though.

 

[nigelmercier]

...does anyone recommend any particular portable waterproof equipment for amplifying iPod/phone-stored music while at sea? ...

Why not buy a cheap one for 10% of the price and replace it if it gets damaged?

 

[Greenheart]

Why not buy a cheap one for 10% of the price and replace it if it gets damaged?

A cheap what? That was my question! I want a set-up that'll play loudly on those fizzing bright breezy days, so I feel like a California kid in a hair-gel commercial.

The question is, who makes the speakers, compact amp, battery pack, all waterproof, or a waterproof compartment for them, which doesn't prevent wet hands from operating the controls.

I'd really prefer to be able to mount the speakers in the forepeak bulkhead too, car parcel-shelf style. It's stereo, after all...

 

[davidej]

Presumably the sound system would go really well with the underwater lights discussed recently on the forum.

 

[Greenheart]

Got that covered: LEDs in the tips of the oars. And 'D'-cells in the hand grips.

 

[northwind]

A cheap what? That was my question! I want a set-up that'll play loudly on those fizzing bright breezy days, so I feel like a California kid in a hair-gel commercial.

The question is, who makes the speakers, compact amp, battery pack, all waterproof, or a waterproof compartment for them, which doesn't prevent wet hands from operating the controls.

I'd really prefer to be able to mount the speakers in the forepeak bulkhead too, car parcel-shelf style. It's stereo, after all...

Speakers are the easy bit.. Plenty to choose from -

Connectors - bulgin buccaneer

Main unit to play music / batteries, depends on what "control" you want, but there are plenty of enclosures ranging from Otterboxes to simpler..

The diy way would be to hack an existing device into an enclosure, and use waterproof switches to operate it, so that the device is 100% watertight.

The only thing off the shelf I know of is this..

 

[Greenheart]

That looks pretty slick. Expensive, too. I'm assuming that unit is fully waterproof? Will it suit an Android phone?