Amp installation

[Mr. Mutt]

I am ready to install two Kicker 650x4 amps for my in-boat and tower speakers. I plan on putting them in the storage area behind the spotter's chair of my 99 Xstar. I was looking at the sidewalls in there and I noticed there doesn't appear to be a lot of places to screw in the amps. How have others installed amps in this area? Do you put wood backings in there or something? I'd rather not drill through the fiberglass in the walkway to install these. Thanks for the help!

[actiondcpd]

I think most people cut out the carpet on the hull, then glue up a board where you can mount the amp.

[BigDeal]

Just a suggestion. What I've done in the past in the location you mention is to install a piece of 'good' 3/4" plywood on the inside of walkway wall as follows:

1 - Make the amp mounting board long enough so that it will rest on the floor of the storage area (carries the vertical load better that way). I covered this board will spray-on bedliner material to protect it.
2 - Make a smaller attachment board (about a third as big) out of the same plywood, and attach it to the inner walkway wall in the storage locker with Liquid Nail Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive. You'll have to grind away the carpet where this board mounts to the wall. A wire wheel on a drill or grinder will make short work of this step. Just make sure you don't get carried away. I also used spay-on bedliner material on this board to protect it.
3 - Screw the amp mounting board to the small attachment board you installed in step two.

At this point you should be golden and have a really solid amp mounting board, that to a large degree, is still removeable if or when you pull the amp(s) out of your boat. If you're a neat freak (like me), installing the amp mounting board like this will also give you enough space to route your power, ground and speaker wires through/behind the mounting board. Really makes for a clena install.

Good luck.