Boat Journal

Chronicling a love affair with sailing

Tag: sound system

Music in the Air!

The speakers are installed and life is wonderful! Sound is great! The only thing left to do is get the wires out of the way.

Paul ran the wire aft in the engine compartment, I assume, to avoid the heat of the engine.

Jodi came by with me and tied up the wires. She then saw that the wires on the other side, from the gauges, were just inside the engine compartment, so she put the speaker wires there as well. She then noticed that the other wires were running in a groove just inside the molding, so she removed the molding and did the same with the speaker wires

Now the wirs are out of the way and the sound is great!

Holes in the Boat, Parte Deux

Well, I finally did it. I decided the music was important enough to me that I went ahead and put holes between the cabin and the cockpit so I could have tunes when sailing.

So, I picked up a small saw, my drill, and some screws. I already had the wire I needed and a mounting frame(?). And I set to work.

The place I wanted to put it was lined with wood I was trying to miss on the inside, so I measured carefully to make sure they went in the proper place.

measuring the spot

Somehow, over the months I’d had the speakers, I lost the pattern that was included. So I created my own.

pattern for the speakers

I drew the holes and measured again:

remeasuring

I drilled a couple of sample holes, just to make sure I’d gotten it right. And I still seemed to have messed it up, since one of the holes ended up in the wood.

messing it up

I used the drill to create a ring of holes around the ring, as I’d read in a book recently. Then I used the saw I’d purchased to connected them and finish the job. But the saw broke after getting only 1/4 way around one of the holes. So I finished it up by using the drill to connect the dots.

Holes around a hole

I finished it up, then put epoxy in to seal the wood and fiberglass against water damage.

Finished Hole

Notice how thick it is? That really surprised me!

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Holes in the Boat

Reading the title, I assume you think I’m talking about the leaks I have. And, since this baby is 34 years old, those do happen. But I’m talking about the holes I’ve (avoiding) putting in her.

Everyone customizes their boat. After so many years, there’s been alot of it done: there’s a new head, the interior is yellow, the salon has velcroed pillows to create a ‘couch’. And I’m starting to do a bit myself.

First big project is installing a stereo system. I love music – all kinds. So it seems a natural to put a simple system on the boat. I purchased a Sony car stereo that West Marine sold with indoor/outdoor speakers, and I bought two bookcase speakers to add to the mix.

So, what I want to do is hang the stereo beside the CB radio just aft starboard of the galley. I put the two bookcase speakers in my galley shelves, and I want to install the indoor/outdoor speakers on the lower forward (under the seats) of the cockpit. One side isn’t too bad. There’s an old piece of plexiglass that isn’t to watertight that was installed, I’m guessing, to cover the hole where the original engine instruments were. So I’ll get a new piece of plexiglass, cut a hole in the middle to fit the speaker, and mount it. No problem!

The problem is the other side. That will involve cutting a hole in the fiberglass. No big deal, right?

Well, I just keep thinking, what if the next owner doesn’t want a hole on that side of the boat? Not that I’m thinking of selling this thing any time in the near future. But, well, what if?

I have arguments with my husband every time we paint the house. He keeps picking neutral colors. I say they make the place look like we’re renting. So I paint the bedrooms vibrant colors. So what if we have to paint over it if and when we ever sell?

Well, this is a bit different. This is, like permanent. Yes, you can repair fiberglass. But that will be an awfully big repair, if it’s ever needed.

Like the mount on the back of the boat. Earlier, I’m sure, I mentioned about the outboard I sold. The mount for it is still there; it was put on with some 3M product that ensures it will be there until I’m willing to pay for an awfully big fiberglass repair, since it’s not going to be easy to remove.

And I keep thinking I’m doing the same sort of thing by putting a speaker hole in the cockpit.

Wish me luck! Or talk me out of it! I’m planning on doing it as part of the winter repairs.

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