Upholstery/speaker install issue

[TRIP]

A former owner of my boat had new upholstery installed, but didn't have cutouts for speakers made.




I ordered speaker cloth from Christine's 'cause I'd like to go for the original setup and not have speaker covers pushing in people's backs:



Anyone have done this before? Tips? Do I have to take all upholstery off the pads or would I make a cutout for the speaker and would I 'sink' it in through there?
How would one make the ring around the cloth? A local upholstery guy would do that, but he has never done it before so tips are welcome!

[NAWTEAK]

Are the PVC rings still there? If so the speaker mesh is glued to that with the piping stapled to it as well. Then u cut a hole the vinyl and screw it to the plastic backing, 2 screws i can see the holes are still there. If the PVC is gone just buy some 6" tube with at least 1/4 wall for the screws.

[TRIP]

No there are no PVC rings. I don't have any piping so would have to have some made. Never going to match the color of the skins so maybe I should install them without the cloth, but flushed like here:


Would rather have them out of sight though...

[NAWTEAK]

I’d just match the piping to the cloth as close as u can, those speaker grills look hideous!

[xrichard]

If you want to maintain the flush look, I think your best bet is to make piping out of black vinyl and then replace the cloth over the speakers with black speaker cloth. If you don't want black, then NAWTEAK is a great suggestion.

In my experience, speaker cloth always fades and looks worse over time, so I think the best bet is to just set speakers on top of the vinyl like you posted in #3. It might look hideous when shown isolated in your photo, but the fact is people do this all the time when replacing the stock speakers with Wetsounds, etc,....and, at least in 2008, Nautique mounted the speakers that way from the factory.

Once installed, you'll never notice them again. Well, I wouldn't.

[azeus17]

If you are worried about digging into people's backs, the speaker cloth isn't going to help you. The PVC ring required to hold the speaker cloth will be at the surface too, so that will dig. I would just recess the speakers with grills into the panel. It seems that most people actually prefer that look, but I understand everyone is different.

[TRIP]

I'm considering that more and more. Just seems easier. Any how-go-threads on this site? Sorry, total n00b, never installed a speaker or worked with upholstery in my life.

[srock]

Make sure you install speakers with covers that screw on through the actual cover otherwise the covers will pop off.

[TRIP]

Aaargh time to get back to this project I fear... and get it done! (Man I hate projects, just want to ride and teach!)
If I'd want them installed like this


would I just screw the speaker into the board of the coaming pad? What or where does the upholstery attach to?

[TRIP]

Are the PVC rings still there? If so the speaker mesh is glued to that with the piping stapled to it as well. Then u cut a hole the vinyl and screw it to the plastic backing, 2 screws i can see the holes are still there. If the PVC is gone just buy some 6" tube with at least 1/4 wall for the screws.

And install speakers like you did here, you mean? What material is that ring, in between speaker and boat?

[Blamey]

Here is my post on doing the same thing.

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...sport-nautique

I did some speakers from the front, and others I left the grills.

I used the black PVC rings (which i got off Amazon), that you can see in some of the pics. The ring is under the vinyl and the vinyl is between the ring and the speaker, stapled to the back board. Let me know if this isn't clear or if you have questions.

For the front mounted speakers (which I didn't document) I didn't mount the speaker inside the ring for a flush mount, I mounted on top.

[TRIP]

Can't friggin' believe but I DID IT! Only took me 11 months, no more!

Adding some pictures here for those like me that need it explained like they're 5

And thanks tons Blamey and NAWTEAK for your messages, they helped me a lot!

[glassywaters]

Probably the best option and will hold up long term. No the easiest work, but looks good.