Side Panels?!?! Help please!!!

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

Hey guys my boat has a really old stereo and I just messed up my knee so it is time for a project and stereo is gonna be it. I think my speakers right now are about 4 inches or around 5. I wanna put in some 6.5's can I just cut a bigger hole in the side panel where the speaker mounts? If so what should I use? And a pretty stupid question but how do I remove the side panels to get into wiring stuff. Thanks a lot for all your input. Also my battery right now is in the back of the boat.

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

come on guys

Styk33 · Posted: Jul 20, 2005 11:11 am Post subject:

I use a saber saw or a sawzall depending on how much material I need to go throw. Just check the other side before cutting to make sure there is nothing there. As for running the wires, I am not familiar with the Cobalt boats, so I cannot help there. In my boat there is enough open space with the speaker out to put my entire arm in to hand the wire over to another person. Or use an old car antenna to 'poke' the wire to another location so you can grab it.

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

But my battery is in the back of the boat so im thinking that connecting the amp to that will be some trouble. Or do I connect the amp to the battery? I am in need of some help here guys. Please you guys are great at this kind of stuff.

Styk33 · Posted: Jul 20, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject:

Yes, your amp needs a power and ground wire from the battery. Remote turn on and RCA cables from the head unit. Then you will run your speaker wire from the amp to the speakers.

On a boat you run your ground either to the battery itself or to the block itself where the battery is grounded.

Quick online search found this how-to site.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5829_wire-car-stereo.html

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

thanks for the link but how do you think that I can run my amp to my battery. Like where to wire it. And how do I take off the side panels?

Wallrat · Posted: Jul 20, 2005 7:34 pm Post subject:

Here's a handy site for determining wire gauge and fuse size: http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/systemdesignassistant.swf

A/B amps are used to power speakers while D Class amps are used only for subwoofers. You can find the amp's efficiency in the manual or sometimes on the website for that particular amp. For the most part the default values work pretty good.

I'm just guessing here but I get the impression that installing a stereo yourself might be a tad over your head. Might be a good idea to ask some friends if they know anything about that sort of thing. As far as side panels go...every boat is different but all have some way to attach the panels. Some have screws, others clips, etc. Just look around for stuff that looks like its holding it on and remove em. Oh and remember what goes where.

Oh and I use a spiral cut tool for cutting speaker holes. Easiest/cleanest thing I've found.