Adding Bow Speakers

[brit_rider]

Jsut a quick one.

when my Limited 210 SAN get sher ei will be adding the bow speakers myself hopefully.

Jsut wondering if anyone has done this? Only 2 things that concern me.

1. threading the wire up tot he newly cut holes.. anyone know how tricky it is?
2. Cutting the holes, would a coping saw or similar cut the glass? what have other people used? I am competant with jigsaws and routers but i am worried about them scratching the surrounding area so would prefer old fashioned hand tools if possible. any ideas??
I thought maybe using a hole cutting drill and just joining up t he holes then finishing with a file?...

Thanks for any help on this one

[TwinTip]

Brit_rider, I cut holes for speakers on a boat that just had fiberglass as opposed to some of the materials you will find on other boats. The boat was not a Nautique but the experience counts. I used a jigsaw and put a couple of layers of fabric on its base (you can use an old t-shirt), all of this was held together by electrical tape. This prevented any scratches while I layed the base of the jigsaw on the fiberglass. This was not the fanciest solution but it worked out pretty well, no scratches and a pretty smooth cut. You should also put tape around the circumference you want to cut. Last but not least, make sure you use a fiberglass saw or you might chip the edge on your cut.

Here comes the safety factor. Wear a mask or a bandana over your nose & mouth. Also, wear a long sleeve shirt and pants. You don't want to breathe the dust nor do you want to be itching because of the fiberglass.

If you have a fish-tape, you can use it to route the wires. Else and depending on how long of a run you have, you can use a clothes hanger, just make sure that you bend the tip and put some tape over it, you don't want to scratch your seats or gelcoat.

[brit_rider]

Thanks Twintip, Great Advice.

Lastly, Anyine knwo what model the Polk speakers are in the 05 210? I'd like tp keep it all similar if possible.

[TwinTip]

Brit_rider, are you planning on installing the speakers at the floor level? Doesn't the 210 have the bow speakers installed on the side cushion? If you want to keep everything similar, you may want to install the speakers at the same location as the factory.

[TwinTip]

This is how my install turned out. I also cut the hole for the radio.

[FatBoy]

If I am not mistaken, these are the speakers that come in the 2005 teams, at least thats what my dealer told me when I ordered mine.

http://www.polkaudio.com/car/product.php?name=mmc650

[Roddbod]

Twintip is right as to the location of the bow speakers being in the cusion. My 04 LE didnt come with front speakers but it was rather easy to put them in. As for the speaker wires mine were already there from the factory.

[brit_rider]

Thanks Fatboy :)

Twintip, i ordered the Limited edition, as i understand it i get no bow speakers or sub and amp. so i'm adding it all myself. along with the ballast i have added as an option and tower the boat should technically be a team edition by the time i'm done, other then the teak patform.. but i prefer that over composite tbh.

Rod - In the 05's I believe they changed so they don't sit in a cusion anymore, its just set in fibreglass.
It would be awesome if the wiring is already there.

[TwinTip]

Brit_rider, I just received the Jan/Feb issue of Waterski Magazine and they tested a lot of boats. The 210 is shown and does have the speakers on the cushion. Attached is a link for the online review but you cannot see the speakers in the bow. You can see that they are not mounted on the fiberglass though (picture #5).

Roddbod is correct, the wiring should have been done at the factory already so you won't have to worry about that. One down, one to go......

I don't know the model but the picture that Fatboy shows is the speaker that the '05s come with. These speakers have the tweeter in the center and it can be moved from side to side or up/down.

LINK (http://www.waterskimag.com/product_search_results.jsp?filter=launched%3D%27Y% 27+and+type_id+in+%28181%2C136%2C269%2C270%29+and+ category_id+in+%28112%2C115%29+and+manufacturer_id +%3D+25227+and+year+%3D+2005&product=boat&order=year+desc&menuID=&subMenuID=&typeID=181%2C136%2C269%2C270&categoryID=112%2C115&specID=113&page=2&pageSet=)

[brit_rider]

Twintip, Thanks for that, I had watched the vid but never viewed the gallery.

doing the vinyl work may be a bit of a Pain in the ***... but if i really screw up i guess i cna always order new pads and start over..... the boat arrives in february, once it gets here i think i'll weigh up the options, might mean me putting them in the walkway rather than the armrest area...

Anyone got any shot sof a 210 Ltd bow area????

Thanks again Twintip, great advice

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's my 2003 210 Limited bow area. Speakers are different, but the placement is the same.

[brit_rider]

Thanks Jeff :)

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's an '05...

[Rick]

Brit-rider. When you get the boat poke about the cushions I bought a 2000SN without a radio. When I took the side bolsters to remove the gas tank ( whole other story), I found the backing was already cut out for the speakers. If that is the case in yours all you will need is a razor blade to cut the vinyl to install your speakers

[jwhposon]

A question on the bow speakers of the SAN 2004, they exist in the cushion and I have avoided changing them because the wiring is too difficult to get in that small area between the hull and speaker. Only because I am comparing it to the other four speakers as there are four screws on the backside. Is that the same for the bow speakers? If not how do you get them out, I would love to replace them... Until I soak them with water over the bow ;).

[Alan-S]

Wow, you guys like the bow speakers? I would love to get rid of mine if anyone wants them. I disconnected mine when I installed my 4x50 amp for my inboat speakers, those speakers up there are just not worth the wasted enery from the amp. When I did have them connected, people up from complained about not being able to talk with the rest of the boat or with eachother. Just my opinion though, if anyone has a blue and white bow bolster w/o speakers, I will swap.