Marine audio

Has anyone used non-marine audio equipment in their boats? Mainly Amps and Subs. Also wodering about decks.

i think a majority of people use non-marine audio/video equimpment in their boat...including decks...

yes...eclipse head unit, zapco & mmats amps, and image dynamic speakers & subs...

(Message edited by nautielove on November 07, 2006)

A few speaker makers like Kicker and Polk make Marine grade speakers (not to be mistaken with Marine speakers) that are bomb proof. Most Amps can be stored in dry area of the boat and the quality of the "Marine" Amps is not up to par with most car amps at this point. My HU died after about 4 years, but the location allowed for water to get on it from time to time. In my new boat it will be in the glove box away from the elements.

You have a lot more options with non marine speakers and amplifiers. Most of the time if you have your install done at a nice shop, if for some reason something fails because of water damage they will warranty it.

I ran all non marine equipment in my boat this past summer and didn't have a single problem. I actually swapped the factory marine cd player for a non marine due to it takin' a dump after a couple weekends. The cheapo tower set up I built just to have tunes that I could hear while anchored sat in countless rain showers and sun, and still sound great, matter of fact I am reusing them for the new system.

I ran non marine speakers and subs in my boat. They were diamond audio s 600 separate speakers and kicker solobaric subs. Being in the beautiful northwest we have been known to ride in the rain a bit and everything held up great. I am for sure putting the same setup in my new boat.

My tower speakers are DIY HLCD pro audio gear that I treated for moisture/UV protection with a product called "wet-look". I would not hold a hose up to them but so far so good. I use car audio for all of my amps and my line driver/eq.(all Hifonics) Kicker CVX 12's for my subs and also some JBL power tweeters in the dash too. With 6 volt golf cart batteries wired in series to power it all. The HU is marine because of the wired remotes (I have two and one is right at water level on the transom) Interior speakers are 8 inch Pioneer are also marine.

(Message edited by sea_ray_dave on November 07, 2006)

Marine or non marine...they both are affected by moisture....marine equipment is just over priced.

What I have done in the past is buy the extended warranty from best buy or circiut city. My deck took a dumb after 2 years....I took it back to best buy during the off season and got a brand new one. No questions asked....

If your boat doesn't get wet buy car stuff. Alot of people here dont wet their boats so the car stuff works fine. If you leave your boat in the rain or hose it down I'd be worried. Car stuff would never work in my boat for example because, since I use it in salt, i hose it down after every use and that would mess up car stuff pretty fast.

I have Polk equip stuff on my boat and no problems. None of it is marine grade. IMO does not matter. Marine grade stuff is over priced and over rated.