flyingarmy
New Member
Started my install on the Speedster SK. So far I have all the holes cut for the 6.5 JBL speakers, the Kenwood head is installed and I have run the wires for both the AMP power and all the speaker wires. Kudos to everyone who gave me suggestions on the installation and to those that had threads on thier installs.
This is what I started with:
-Kenwood KMR-700U
-4 X JBL MS-6200 6.5 Speakers
-JBL MA6004 360W Amplifier
-30 ft 16 guage speaker wire
-20 ft 8 guage power wire
-10ft flexible conduit cover
Before cutting:
Front storage port side storage area where radio/amp will be installed. You can see the stock wire bundle zip tied to the side (Factory radio power and speaker wires). I opted to run new speaker wires since I didn't know the condition of the original factory wires. I'll use the power wires for the Kenwood.
I taped off each hole before cutting with a 5" hole saw. I started the cut with the drill center guide and then removed it after I had a good start into the fiberglass. I did this to ensure it wasn't drilling into anything on the other side. Definitely a pucker factor when cutting holes like this into your boat, but all turned out well. Just cut slow and paticularly at the last part when it cuts through all the way.
After cutting the speaker holes:
I made the power cable for the amp and used flexible conduit cover to make sure it doesn't chafe. I use a wire guide and ran it to the back by the battery. I attached the positive to the master switch and the negative will go to the negative battery post.
Next I moved the passenger handle up, used a chisel and hammer to take off the liquid nail holding the screw plates on the inside of the storage compartment. The radio head was not as wide an the holes from the handle so I used calk to fill in each hole. One is covered by the readio head the otehr is on the left side which you can barely see. I use the template and drilled the screw holes and the cut a 1/8" hole to start my jig saw cutting of the faceplate hole. Took a few tries to get it perfect but I wanted the head to fit snuggly.
Template:
Kenwood installed:
I thought I had more blade connectors so I only installed the 2 back speakers. Having a electricians wire guide is a must! The starboard speaker wires ran out of the back of the storage compartment and then down through the ski locker.
I cut a board to screw the amp into and used liquid nail to mount it in the bottom of the storage compartment. I put the remote Kenwood box on the back wall of the storage compartment. Very limited space on placing it all, but seemed to work out so far.
I still have to install the 2 front speakers, hook up the power to the radio and amp and hook the amp up. Hopefully I'll get some time one of the evenings this week, if not it will be next weekend. Ran out of time and energy today! I'll post up a continuation for the rest of the install when I get it finished. Can't wait to hear how it sounds!
I am also going to install a Blue Seas fuse box in the other compartment. I just took one off my motorcycle that I used to run my GPS, driving lights, automatic oiler and several other gadgets. I am going to use the power from the accessory plug with an additional relay/fuse for safety.
I haven't installed my volt guage that I bought a while ago. Looking for the best place. The dash is already max'ed out in my opinion and I am thinking about placing it next to the master battery switch. Would make it easy seeing the volts right as you switch it on, but wouldn't be convienent for checking volts while cruising. Where does everyone think I should put it?
I am planning on installing a second battery in parallel and use the lockable Perko switch. I have a Waterproof Battery Tender that I will install also with a plug inlet on the outside of the boat. That will be next months project.
Once I get everything cleaned up I'll install the custom Black with Yellow Cut Groove Hydro-Turf. Thought I'd wait till all the mod's are complete to keep from messing it up. Thanks for reading and hope this helps others as much as I learned from others installs.
This is what I started with:
-Kenwood KMR-700U
-4 X JBL MS-6200 6.5 Speakers
-JBL MA6004 360W Amplifier
-30 ft 16 guage speaker wire
-20 ft 8 guage power wire
-10ft flexible conduit cover
Before cutting:
Front storage port side storage area where radio/amp will be installed. You can see the stock wire bundle zip tied to the side (Factory radio power and speaker wires). I opted to run new speaker wires since I didn't know the condition of the original factory wires. I'll use the power wires for the Kenwood.
I taped off each hole before cutting with a 5" hole saw. I started the cut with the drill center guide and then removed it after I had a good start into the fiberglass. I did this to ensure it wasn't drilling into anything on the other side. Definitely a pucker factor when cutting holes like this into your boat, but all turned out well. Just cut slow and paticularly at the last part when it cuts through all the way.
After cutting the speaker holes:
I made the power cable for the amp and used flexible conduit cover to make sure it doesn't chafe. I use a wire guide and ran it to the back by the battery. I attached the positive to the master switch and the negative will go to the negative battery post.
Next I moved the passenger handle up, used a chisel and hammer to take off the liquid nail holding the screw plates on the inside of the storage compartment. The radio head was not as wide an the holes from the handle so I used calk to fill in each hole. One is covered by the readio head the otehr is on the left side which you can barely see. I use the template and drilled the screw holes and the cut a 1/8" hole to start my jig saw cutting of the faceplate hole. Took a few tries to get it perfect but I wanted the head to fit snuggly.
Template:
Kenwood installed:
I thought I had more blade connectors so I only installed the 2 back speakers. Having a electricians wire guide is a must! The starboard speaker wires ran out of the back of the storage compartment and then down through the ski locker.
I cut a board to screw the amp into and used liquid nail to mount it in the bottom of the storage compartment. I put the remote Kenwood box on the back wall of the storage compartment. Very limited space on placing it all, but seemed to work out so far.
I still have to install the 2 front speakers, hook up the power to the radio and amp and hook the amp up. Hopefully I'll get some time one of the evenings this week, if not it will be next weekend. Ran out of time and energy today! I'll post up a continuation for the rest of the install when I get it finished. Can't wait to hear how it sounds!
I am also going to install a Blue Seas fuse box in the other compartment. I just took one off my motorcycle that I used to run my GPS, driving lights, automatic oiler and several other gadgets. I am going to use the power from the accessory plug with an additional relay/fuse for safety.
I haven't installed my volt guage that I bought a while ago. Looking for the best place. The dash is already max'ed out in my opinion and I am thinking about placing it next to the master battery switch. Would make it easy seeing the volts right as you switch it on, but wouldn't be convienent for checking volts while cruising. Where does everyone think I should put it?
I am planning on installing a second battery in parallel and use the lockable Perko switch. I have a Waterproof Battery Tender that I will install also with a plug inlet on the outside of the boat. That will be next months project.
Once I get everything cleaned up I'll install the custom Black with Yellow Cut Groove Hydro-Turf. Thought I'd wait till all the mod's are complete to keep from messing it up. Thanks for reading and hope this helps others as much as I learned from others installs.
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