Amp Rack Stereo Install LOTS OF PICS

[swatguy]

WEll I finally upgraded my stereo in the boat. Big thanks to RBOOKER for some help.


I installed 2Kicker amps WAs going to do 3 originally, but deided to go with 2. Put them both on acc switches so I can run just the towers, just the cabins or both. A Kicker ZX700.5 to push the 4 Polk Momo MMC 650 cabins in the boat and the Eclipse 12inch sub. A Kicker ZX350.2 to push the MB Quart Tower speakers. I was on a budget so I know it's not pro audio, but they will serve the purpose none the less for getting some tunes to the rider. I also am not a professional installer so feel free to give some feedback. First real attempt at a "customized" job. The wood in the pics was covered with Sikkens to make it waterproof. The cans were insulated with a new Dynamat caulk/paste that came out of a tube. Stuff was great to work with and easy to spread, and the bundle of excess blue RCA wire in the last couple pics has been removed.

Here are the pics

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[tbd01]

nice and clean install, well thought out, looks good

[TJsAudio]

nice You will like the mb quarts they are very good speakers

[TOO-TALL]

Nice install..

I see your in the chicago area......What part?

[swatguy]

I am from SW side of Chicago, born and raised. Thanks for the compliments. Wish summer would come. Going to dump her this weekend.

[brucemac]

that is a sweet ride man.

nice pics too.

i need swat tomorrow man. can you come over.

target live

target = red

red is up

tred in view

..


protect the butter.

make some breakfast.

and you're set-

--bruce

[TOO-TALL]

I am from SW side of Chicago, born and raised. Thanks for the compliments. Wish summer would come. Going to dump her this weekend.

We'll have to ride together this summer.I'm an hour south of Chicago.

[swatguy]

Too Tall
We ride over in Morris usually when I don't get down to my cottage in Lake Shelbyville. Where do you ride at?

[craig3972]

Nice - I had exactly the same boat, interior and exterior color, only difference is I had a fiberglass swim platform. I also put in a 12" ported box sub at the drivers feet.

[agarabaghi]

Did you do anything to that plywood to protect it from the elements? I would think it would rot pretty quickly.

[swatguy]

Thanks guys,


Yup I sealed the plywood with Sikkens. I sealed the outerside that the carpet was going to contact. I didn't want to seal backside so the glue I used would get good bond.

[agarabaghi]

nice. would sikkens work on something like MDF board? Im looking to build a bow filler cushion sub box and was thinking of fiberglass resin sealing it, but sikkens looks easier to do...

[swatguy]

I am not sure on the mdf. I use it on my teak platform as well. It lasts at least 2 seasons with abuse so would assume it works on the mdf. They have it at west marine. I am by far not a Sikkens or any sealer expert. I just had a bunch left over after doing my teak swim deck. The nice thing about it is that it has 5 different colors to choose from.

[bcd]

Nicely done. Does your sub have a box or is it free air? I built a box for mine and it made a huge difference. I could post some pictures if you would like. It was a little tricky because you have to install the box then kick plate, then sub. It was a little tight but I was able to get the recommended air volume.

[agarabaghi]

I would love to see pics. Ive been decieding on how to approach the sub in box behind kick panel

[swatguy]

Bcd my 12 is in a sealed box. I just made the front of the sealed box to the dimensions of the kickpanel. It just slides into place so I can move it around to get to hoses n stuff back there. Just carpeted the front with carpet from old kickpanel. I just put my boat in storage. Give me a couple days and I will try and get some pics.


Basically I made one out of carboard first and then copied the design to wood. You need to figure out which sub your going to put in there and build the box to the specs it says then just add the kickpanel to the front. My box is not the hole size of the kick panwl behind it. I chose not to use the slim, flimsy factory one and match it out of mdf. you also end up having to trim off a 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch off the bottom if you want it to slide in and out. I used 3 small 2x4 pieces for the back odmf the sub box to rest on. You will see once you pop off the kick panel there us a lip you hve to make up to keep the box level. Again u will see what I mean when u pop the panel off. I just re attached my mdc, fire extinguisher and perfect pass module to the front of sub/ kick panel

[bcd]

Here are some pictures of what I did. I reused the flimsy kick panel, but made the full box behind it. The front face of the box stiffened up my kick panel. Only downside was I had to place the box in loose, install the kick plate, then screw the box to the kick plate and install the sub. I predrilled the holes to mount the box to the kick plate so I could easily screw it together in the boat.

I was able to use the recommended air volume for the 12" Rockford Fosgate P3. I did have to shave the corner to clear the hull that you can see in the picture looking back from the bow. I used a couple of pieces of plywood on edge to support the box. If I had it to do over, I would have used something more water resistant. After my sub project, I added the integrated bow sac, which sometimes gets water back in that area.

[agarabaghi]

What boat is that?

[bcd]

My boat was a 2002 X Star.

[agarabaghi]

Do you have the dimensions of the box you made and how high those pieces holding it up are?

[bcd]

I don't have the boat anymore to measure. I'm pretty sure I was able to use the recommended dimensions from Rockford Fosgate. I just built a box for my new boat, and it looks dimensionally the same to my pictures. The box should be 18" wide x 14"tall x 10" deep.

For the support pieces, I just centered the box on my cutout on the kick plate, mounted the box to the kick plate, and then took a measurement to make them.

[agarabaghi]

Cool, im going to try this for a 8" sub...