Waterproof speakers

[cmedsailor]

I like the idea of adding two speakers somewhere at the cockpit. I have two questions:
- Are they really waterproof because it's a place where I usually wash the boat?
- Please look at the photo attached. Is, acoustic wise, a good idea to add them where the two red arrows point?

Thanks

OK and a 3rd question. Any recommendations for speakers please.

Thanks again.

 

[colvic987]

I like the idea of adding two speakers somewhere at the cockpit. I have two questions:
- Are they really waterproof because it's a place where I usually wash the boat?
- Please look at the photo attached. Is, acoustic wise, a good idea to add them where the two red arrows point?

Thanks

OK and a 3rd question. Any recommendations for speakers please.

Thanks again.

With two large extra magnetic forces in the binnacle, might affect your compass??

 

[cmedsailor]

With two large extra magnetic forces in the binnacle, might affect your compass??

I think you are correct. Most probably they will affect my compass. I forgot about the magnets.

 

[starfire]

It's where a lot of speakers are mounted, most of those are waterproof & magnetically shielded, so not a problem if you buy decent ones.


But, introducing any mass of metal near the compass, I would check it before & after, re swinging if necessary.

 

[gjgm]

I like the idea of adding two speakers somewhere at the cockpit. I have two questions:
- Are they really waterproof because it's a place where I usually wash the boat?
- Please look at the photo attached. Is, acoustic wise, a good idea to add them where the two red arrows point?

Thanks

OK and a 3rd question. Any recommendations for speakers please.

Thanks again.

Poly-planar are readily available, and seem to used alot.
Check their website, but I think the magnets are shielded too. About £50 a pair, as I recall, and come with a few metres of cable for connection too.

 

[Seajet]

I fitted a Clarion marine radio/CD system, with 2 speakers in the forecabin & 2in the cockpit - the modern systems have MP3.

Works well.

The speakers are alleged to be magnetically shielded, which frankly I didn't believe - until I put them against the main compass.

They have to be within 6" to have any effect.

Having said that, I'd still suggest a compass swing before any decent trip...

Also beware if it's relevant, the speakers are quite heavy, and the current draw is very significant.

I think you're referring to entertainment systems, but I'll just add that I tried Navico 'waterproof' speakers ( the square block jobs ) for my VHF, and they each lasted about 6 months - I was daft enough to try again after the first one gave up.

I now have a free standing waterproof speaker, a small black thing on a bracket for about £14:00, in a cockpit coaming locker, I forget the make but they're commonly available in chandleries; I won't mention where I got mine as the ****** ripped me off later in a big way, and a lot of fellow members of my club have had the same...

This does its' job, though I'm not too impressed by the front going rusty.

 

[PaulR]

ours are mounted in the front face of the rear locker area (behind and each side the binnacle) - yes they seem to be waterproof and sound is good although if they had been able to be fitted in the cockpit forward bulkhead facing aft might be better for us but problem was area behind (heads and galley ) whereas into locker not an issue - had the boat 7 years and on second set of speakers - got ours off ebay if I remember correctly - look for swimming pool speakers

 

[SailBobSquarePants]

Not a great place actually..

Please be aware that if the speakers are enclosed within the same cabinet, they WILL interfere with each other's sound, and you will get distortion and inadvertent mixing of the left and right channel. This is due to the back pressure of one speaker moving through the cabinet and pressing on the cone of the other speaker - which can be very noticeable in terms of distortion because it will be all out of phase when it hits - and the smaller the space, the worse the effect. That's not to say "absolutely don't do this!", but if you could avoid it it would certainly sound better. (BTW - I know this because MY two Infinity Kappa speakers had to be installed in a common airspace in the cabin, and they do suffer from it. I am fabricating boxes for them in the off season...).

Usually putting one in the port and one in the starboard settee locker seems to work very well...you may wish to buy a pair of plastic cones they sell to protect the back of the speaker from items placed in the lockers, or box them in using glass mat and epoxy...