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Stereo in a Jon Boat

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I have a 14 jon boat I was wondering if there is anyway you could mount a waterproof radio and speakers.

  • Super User

Been there done that; a portable is easier :o

I have a 14 jon boat I was wondering if there is anyway you could mount a waterproof radio and speakers.

not to sound sarcastic, but I call this an iPod.  if Im out alone for a few hours I toss the pod in the tackle bag n go.  super ez.

  • Super User
Been there done that; a portable is easier :o

And a lot cheaper!

Many years ago when I was working part-time in a car stereo shop we built a couple portable stereo systems for boat owners using large coolers. We'd mount a pair of 6x9's in the front of the cooler, build a false floor inside to mount the radio in, and add an antenna and couple gold-plated power/ground distribution blocks to the back of the cooler so it could be hooked to the boat's battery.

Simple, inexpensive, portable, and it kept the radio dry.

quick and easy way if must have to is just install the stereo and speakers i would just use 5 1/4 or smaller (enough sound) to your bench seat if your boat have them. just cut out your mounting holes and just wire through the holes and when install speakers and stereos your wires is hidin. out of sight out of mind. i personally ould also use a separate battery if want to hid that too just cut another slot in back of seat to slide through and maybe use plexi glass with hinges and twist locks as a door to it.

but ipod or mp3 player is enough.

i also dont use marine stereos cost to high. they make a stereo case with a water proof shield to it that you can mount but from what i seen of them they stick out some. most boat places and i want to say bass pro shop sells them. but on my 16 foot tri haul i just bout the cheap stereo from walmart and installed it with my old car speakers when car broke. i think their 4 x 6's and ran them to their own battery. came in handy cause when out fishing especially on long trips u tend to get board especially using live bait catfishing or saltwater and nothing biting. just if listening to cd's bring more than one. my god the same song over and over again.

igloo makes a cooler that has speakers built in, along with an mp3 input.  kill two birds with one stone

ipod with speakers is what i use.works good

ipod with speakers is what i use.works good

That would probably be the easiest and most economical option. If you decide the iPod/speaker setup isn't loud enough you can build a little portable headphone amplifier in a mint tin for about $30...

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Or you can do it the redneck way like I did, went to Walmart and bought a shower radio.  Larry Munson never sounded better on those early morning saturday game days, payed $9.99.

i dont want to listen to music i want to fish !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is similar to what I use. Found in kids section at Wal-mart. They are like $2-3.

upimg8%5CMini-Radio_46668.jpg

I use it in the boat, the ice tent and anywhere else I want a little sound. Also nice to take on camping trips.

If you want to build something, do it because that's what you enjoy doing and want something unique and different, or maybe a little better sounding. Yeah it's gonna cost more than a cheap portable radio but it will be fun, look cool (depending on the viewer), and sound pretty good too.

If you just want some music to break the monotany of a dull day, this might not be the way to go.

Personally, I'm the type that would get a cooler and some speakers, wire, a deck, and go crazy, might even include built in CD storage in there somewhere. Small amps, whatever I might happen to think of. It would be gaudy and possibly ugly when I got done but it sure would sound sweet and no one else would have one, that's for sure!!  It would look better built into the boat though.  Only problem is you'd have to get speakers that would be marine grade (Polk and Kicker make some though, don't always have to be "boat" speakers).  Then the deck has to be protected as well.  Only reason I haven't done it on my boat yet is cause it would cost me more than I'd get usage out of it.  I could see $300 or more in it and right now that would get me 3 more Shimano Compre rods instead, which I...umm...need??  Yeah, need is the right word. ;D

If you want to build something, do it because that's what you enjoy doing and want something unique and different, or maybe a little better sounding. Yeah it's gonna cost more than a cheap portable radio but it will be fun, look cool (depending on the viewer), and sound pretty good too.

If you just want some music to break the monotany of a dull day, this might not be the way to go.

Personally, I'm the type that would get a cooler and some speakers, wire, a deck, and go crazy, might even include built in CD storage in there somewhere. Small amps, whatever I might happen to think of. It would be gaudy and possibly ugly when I got done but it sure would sound sweet and no one else would have one, that's for sure!! It would look better built into the boat though. Only problem is you'd have to get speakers that would be marine grade (Polk and Kicker make some though, don't always have to be "boat" speakers). Then the deck has to be protected as well. Only reason I haven't done it on my boat yet is cause it would cost me more than I'd get usage out of it. I could see $300 or more in it and right now that would get me 3 more Shimano Compre rods instead, which I...umm...need?? Yeah, need is the right word. ;D

on my tri haul thundercraft i use regular 4x6's pioneer speakers. no problem with them. and my stereo just a cheapy but now with the stereo i would get the cover due to wetness but i never had no problem on my thundercraft . just skips from the bumps but when steady no probs at all and i dont have it covered. i been out fishing in rain all night too.but if do what i insisted you know mounting to the metal frame seat i would though use a speaker baffle (think thats right) the rid the echo from inside the metal frame. most places like best buy sells it post to rid rattling and echoing.

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