Please Help Pontoon Boat Setup

[KyLake]

What i want is (4) 6 1/2" speakers and i see Crutchfield is running some specials on some. Everything i read on Polk seems to be very good. I just listened to two boats today with a Pioneer amp and Infinity Kappa speakers in them. Both sounded good and neither had a subwoofer. My boat is 24 feet long and 8 1/2 feet wide. Two speakers are in my couch toward the back of the boat. I have some Clarions on board now that came stock with the pontoon. It seems many tell me that more than db650's would maybe be an overkill on the lake. This is on a fresh water lake and my boat is under a covered dock for about 5 months and dry docked for the rest of the time.

The other two speakers are more up towards the front and in speaker boxes i had Sundancer make for me and are nice and enclosed. I have also looked at the db6500's and like the looks. I would have no prob mounting the seperate tweeters by the other 4 speakers. I can put one crossover box in the couch or under it and be by two speakers. The other crossover would go inside that speaker box toward the front and be by a speaker but it would be about 8 feet from the other speaker where i would have to run a wire from the crossover.

I was looking at Clarion and Bazooka marine amps but by all means please suggest a setup for me with an amp and should i buy a subwoofer with this system? The amp would be in the dry but i figured it would need to be marine graded. Could you in here help me make a decision with what 4 speakers, should i get a sub, what amp should i get and what brand and how much power? Do i need to fool with those seperate tweeters and seperate cross over boxes or should i consider a differ model Polk speakers?


It seems to me that one amp would be best and not have to deal with two, heavier, more space and more heat. If i get a sub i guess i need a 5 channel amp but i am a rookie at all this. I am just trying to read and learn. I want to take my stock Clairons out, and put 4 polks in. I have a top of the line marine grade Clarion head and i guess it runs 18 watts rms. It seems to do fine and i figure where i will see a difference is good speakers, maybe a sub and an amp. What sub should i get to match up with what i get and please tell me amps or match me an amp with what system you tell me about.

If any amp is on closeout or i can get a good deal on, please fill me in. Thanks for the help in TN and on KY Lake.

[Dennis Gardner]

The DBs are just fine for your boat. I wouldn't waste $$$ for separates, just go coaxials. I would add a subwoofer or 2 to round out the bottom end. They can be mounted into the seat boxes along with your main speakers. Bazooka makes a nice 4 channel amp and a mono subwoofer amp that would really do your boat good. The amps have built-in crossovers to handle directing the different ranges.

I'm currently doing my boat and the choices you are looking at are very similar to mine. I will go Clarion CMD4 head unit and Polk speakers with enough power to rock the boat.;) pun intended......

[KyLake]

Thanks so much Dennis and have you decided on your speakers? I was over looking at Ebay on some Pyle amps and they are blowing out 1000 4 channel and 600 watt 2 channels. I wonder if Pyle makes a good amp? Have you made a choice on your sub or sub's Dennis? Thanks again.

[Dennis Gardner]

I personally feel better about the JBL, Bazooka, JL Audio, or even the Clarion models on ebay over the Pyle. This is strictly personal from car audio install days, Pyle wasn't very high quality and overated their amps.

I haven't chosen my subs yet since I have some Image Dynamics that I've been waiting to use, but I will have some Polks in either the boat or my new Dodge Ram Quad Cab. I have to wait to see what will fit in the pickup first.

[F1nut]

I'm not saying either of you do this, but why do people feel the need to blast music out on the water? It tends to ruin the peace and tranquility that being on the water is really about.

[KyLake]

Why do you blast music at McDonald's? Why do you listen to music loud at your house? F1nut did you know using an amp makes listening to music at low levels nice also? I fish hard and catch alot of fish but if i want to ride to Alabama, up in KY, or no matter where and on the lake for 10 to 12 hours i just might want to turn on music i like, soft, loud and alot of times i can listen to music and drown out sea doo's and skiers screaming.

That is like me asking you why do you like rap music over jazz F1nut? Like someone once told me, it is good to have more under the hood even if you never use it. When i do things, i do them good.

Maybe you haven't been on the lake lately or maybe you live on a small lake no one know's about but when you live on the largest or second largest man made lake in the world you don't get much peace and tranquility. I also enjoy seeing what fish enjoy listening to each week and this way i have a tendancy of catching more fish than most because i have a variety of music styles.

[KyLake]

Dennis, have you looked at the Polk/MOMO MMC650? These have a nice look to them, it seems most like them and the tweeters would be easier on the boat and installing. I see also what you said about the Pyle amps seem to be true as it looks like alot think they are not as good as the other amps. I know alot of it depends on if i run a sub or 2 subs and what sets of Polks i run to match them with an amp. Keep me informed on what you end up with.

[Dennis Gardner]

Jesse, the lakes are now becoming the second main street drag for the young crowd with $$$ with their wake boats with huge towers and 1000 watt systems. I agree that it can be annoying, when they don't know how to be considerate. I guess it isn't any worse than the jet boats with open exhausts blasting by at unreal speeds, we've had those for years, let alone the teenage jetskiers that have never had a boating lesson or safety ed.

I do like to turn on music when the kids want to anchor in the middle of the lake away from anyone to dive and swim around the boat. It wears their asses out fast!!

I think any water sporting enthusiast has to have concern for others sharing the spaces.

Oh yeah, my SDAs kept falling over in sharp turns, so I decided to go with car audio in my boat.:D

[F1nut]

KyLake, your reading comprehension seems to be lacking. Nowhere did I say that YOU blast your music. Rather it was a question of ponder.

Since you asked, I don't do Micky D's, at all....stupid question really. At home I'm inside, doors and windows closed as to not impose on my neighbors. My amp will outperform anything you've got at low, medium or high levels. Did you know that? I sail on the Chesapeake Bay, it's larger than your lake.

Enjoy your fishing.




Dennis......:D

[Sherardp]

I think you guys should fight it out. Polkie fight, awesome. Im on the front row with popcorn. I got 500 clams on Kylake just because he's a newbie. LOL.......Just kidding guys. And oh let me get that 10 piece chicken nuggets with that also, Orange for the drink.

[F1nut]

My comment was not intended to start a fight.

[Dennis Gardner]

KyLake, it really depends on the $$$ I have to put into my boat system since it takes a backseat right now to my truck audio/video rig. I will let you know what I decide on. I know the speakers will be Polk coaxial models, I just haven't decided DB or Momo.

Here are a couple shots of my "new to me" fiberglass toy. Still need a little upholstery work, but it runs nice with the 5.7 L V8!

[Sherardp]

Thats one nice toy to have Dennis. I want to buy a boat so bad, but I cant stay off the Motorcycles. Im buying a MV Agusta this week, I sure hope this super sport bike is worth 21,000. I will post up if any of you guys are into the crotch rockets.

[KyLake]

I like the boat Dennis. I have a 225 Honda on my pontoon and it runs quiet. I find it nice and relaxing on the lake no matter if i am fishing or just riding. I am trying to decide on the db series or Momo. I'll probably order mine this next week.

[PolkThug]

As mentioned above, go coaxials on the boat. Checkout Polk's MMC line as well. Pyle amps are crap.

I like to listen to Judas Priest Live in between wakesurfing runs.

[KyLake]

Thanks PolkThug and i have been looking at the mmc650's. I like the looks of these. They say 80rms and i see where the Clarion Marine APX480M amp does 80rms x 4. I have been looking at this setup. I question myself should i go ahead and get a Polk 10" sub but then i would need another small amp. I guess i could always look for a marine 5 channel amp. I do not want jar shattering bass but i wonder if the mmc650's will produce enough to my liking or would i had wished to go ahead and get a sub.

In the next few weeks i am getting some fishing stuff put on my boat and it is being cleaned and while it is out of the water i want to get all this installed and be done with it. That is why i tend to lean on getting a sub also and not wishing later i had one. I'll get the Pyle amps off my mind as i hear many say the same and stick with a brand for the water people likes. I have a Clarion head and i like it and maybe their amps are good.

[F1nut]

I will go Clarion CMD4 head unit

Dennis, you should be aware that the Clarion has a fan on the back that runs ALL the time, even when the unit is powered down. Talking with Clarion brought no practical reason for this other than a piss poor design, nor any practical solution. After checking for heat issues and finding none, it was removed. Other than that issue, it's an excellent unit.

[Dennis Gardner]

Thanks, Jesse. All my electronics are on a separate circuit to prevent battery drain during down times anyway, I learned that years ago on previous boats, when I would accidentally leave on some type of depth finder, radio, courtesy light during the day, etc. A dead battery when you unload into the water simply sucks!

A single 20-30 amp accessory switch to cut off all extra stuff is a great move. Inline fuses for each item can then be used for small shorts.

[schwarcw]

Nice boat Dennis! Where do you like to run it out in Oaklahoma?

[Dennis Gardner]

My family has places on Foss Lake about 90 miles west of OKC on I-40. Its not run by Army Corps of Engineers, but by the Okla. Dept of Interior, so we aren't held by resevoir guidelines (forced drainage) etc. Small marina, deeper, and cleaner than other lakes in my area. Nice quiet lake with a nice community of people that live there year-round.

I haven't had this boat over at Grand, Texoma, Eufaula or Tenkiller yet, but know those well too since my dad was a teacher and summers were spent at many the lakes in our area. Eastern Okla. Arkansas and Missouri have some of the most beautiful lakes you could ever hope for.

[schwarcw]

Cool! Do you do much fishing?

[Dennis Gardner]

Mostly sand bass, striper, crappie, and walleye where I fish. Some big mouth lunkers if you know where to go.

[KyLake]

Dennis, here is a few pics of my boat and two speakers are in the couch toward the back and then two in those speaker boxes. I am going to take the Clarions out and install Polks.

[cfrizz]

Excuse me I have to go barf now! :o

[KyLake]

I made my decision and ordered. I got two pair of MMC6500 Polks and it seemed so many people liked the JBL GTO75.4II i got it. It should run at 100 or a tad over watts rms x 4. I never knew that amp was marine and it is confusing and i didn't know Infinity made JBL but i am a rookie at all this. People at JBL and Infinity advised me to go with JBL GTO75.4II instead of the Infinity marine amps. Where i ordered from also liked that JBL amp for the boat so i just got it and that way i have only 1 amp.

As far as a sub, i didn't get that, as of yet. I hope these will do but if not i'll let my pocketbook recoup for a bit. Thanks all for the help.

[KyLake]

More money, darn this stuff can get expensive. I was gonna have to wait on a JBL a week because of the simple fact they ran out and had to get more so i said just send Alpine MRV-F545 and this amp does say 125rms but my goodness the JBL was alot better bargain than the Alpine MRV-F545 but maybe i will like the Alpine just as good as the JBL.

[KyLake]

What beautiful sound i have now. I have the 4 mmc6500's installed with the Alpine amp and these things sound great. Low or high volume these sound good and never no distortion all the way thru. Crossovers at 0, Amp trebile at 3, bass at 2, on head unit(Clarion), bass at 2 and trebile at 1 i think. I am proud i did not buy a sub because i do not need one. This is plenty bass and great clean crisp sound for me.

I like how the tweeters rotate at different angles. I have dynamat around my speakers and some cut up life jackets for added support and cushion. I let it get dark on me yesterday before i was going to take pictures but in a few days i will post pictures of the speakers, amp and head unit.

[amulford]

Cool. Now you need to think about a sub(s). IMHO, a dual set of these would be perfect with another amp. You could probably set them up in your speaker boxes...

[KyLake]

Love the sound.

http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/polkmomo.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/polkmomo1.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/polkalpine.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/rscarbro/polkalpine1.jpg

[janmike]

Yup, that would be a boat alright!