02 Air Nautique 4th speaker install in combing pad

[novaair]

Thanks to the description provided by Chexi, and some modifications, I was able to take on putting the 4th speaker in the combing pad and am happy with the results. Since I was unable to find out how this was done, below is the response from Chexi on his:

"When I took the combing pad off and then took the vinyl off, I made a hole with a hole saw in the starboard of the combing pad and just cut the foam. Go small (just enough for the back of the speaker to go through. Then line up the combing pad with the deck and mark what you need to cut of the deck fiberglass. I used a jigsaw for that. Pretty easy. Put the vinyl back on, then cut the vinyl at the speaker location like a pizza with 6 slices. Again, go smaller than you think on those cuts. Heat up the vinyl in the sun (better) or with a hair dryer (if not sunny) and staple the points of the vinyl on the back of the starboard with stainless steel or monel staples. Try to pull the vinyl all the way around the back so you get full vinyl coverage on the front part. This is why you go small on the cuts. The vinyl will stretch, and you should be able to do this. You should get a nice circle. This of course is if you are using surface mount speakers like mine.

Note, I added in a small relatively thin piece of cutting board between the combing pad and the foam to add strength for the speakers to mount to. As a result, I did not need to put in a PVC tube or anything like that. I just drilled through the speaker mount holes through the cutting board and starboard (and the vinyl). You can avoid putting holes in the vinyl by using a PVC tube and L brackets with short bolts. "

I also used a soldering iron to punch through the vinyl for the mounting screws.

End result - sorry pic was taken under covered storage and at about the only angle my iphone would allow to get both speakers.

[TravisFling]

Great job!

Looks great! I'm impressed!

[novaair]

Thanks! Cutting the perfectly good vinyl is enough to make you fairly nervous.

[east tx skier]

That looks really good! Is your boat's stock 4th speaker location in the vinyl/plastic piece below the throttle? If so, why did you decide relocate it? I just build something to mimic that location since my 4th speaker was originally on the kickboard firing into the helm. Just curious.

[novaair]

My fourth speaker was originally in the drivers foot well as I have an SE and not a team. I moved it because I added a single 12 there and then re-carpeted the trim board.

[Chexi]

That looks great. I'm glad that my advice, such as it was, was helpful. I'll try to post a picture of mine as well, but I used kickers that do not look quite as nice as your momos.

[Toster]

what sub?

That is what i have been thinking about doing. You did a GREAT job!! Did you go with a free air sub such as http://www.earmarkcaraudio.com/Xcart...cat=274&page=1 or simmilar? More pics!! Did you go ahaid and mount the amps on the port side? How does it sound?

[novaair]

Thanks! I did end up putting the amps on the port side, but ended up using composite board pieces epoxied to the hull since the standoffs would not allow me to change amp configurations very easily. I put a DIYMA r12 in a sealed enclosure, and think it sounds great! I did this cause I had one sitting around from a previous car install. I will try and get more pics the next time I am down at the lake, hopefully next weekend. Now if I can just find some extra cash for a wetsounds ws420...

Shoot me a pm if you are thinking about doing it, would be happy to help out where I can.

[Toster]

I would love to see some pictures of how you did the sub enclosure.

[novaair]

The sub enclosure is built out of MDF and covered (inside and out) in lots of fiberglass resin. Then carpeted it in gray marine carpet using stainless staples and glue and put 3/4" to 1" rubber feet on the bottom (found at lowes). For the kick plate in the footwell, I recovered it in the same gray carpet (lowes). I will get some pictures when I get down to the boat next weekend.

[east tx skier]

My fourth speaker was originally in the drivers foot well as I have an SE and not a team. I moved it because I added a single 12 there and then re-carpeted the trim board.

Okay, I did not realize that the SE did not have the molded piece below the throttle. Again, your project came out really well and I, too, would like to see your sub box. Also, did you just recarpet the kick panel to cover up the hole? Mine is pretty close to the top of the panel and is not very visible. I was considering just doing a carpeted blank to fill the hole.

I just relocated my kickboard speaker, too, but did not put it in the coaming pad. I ended up building a pod and mounting it beneath the throttle. There's a thread on here about it somewhere.

[novaair]

Your install turned out great as well! Building that pod out of fiberglass I am sure was no easy task.

I just recovered over the hole. It was fairly simple and and the carpet is a pretty close match. The hardest part about putting the sub in the foot well was the main wiring harness that runs up through there. Mine did not have enough to reroute to one side of the box or the other.

[Chexi]

Okay, I did not realize that the SE did not have the molded piece below the throttle. Again, your project came out really well and I, too, would like to see your sub box. Also, did you just recarpet the kick panel to cover up the hole? Mine is pretty close to the top of the panel and is not very visible. I was considering just doing a carpeted blank to fill the hole.

I just relocated my kickboard speaker, too, but did not put it in the coaming pad. I ended up building a pod and mounting it beneath the throttle. There's a thread on here about it somewhere.

Looks great.

[east tx skier]

Your install turned out great as well! Building that pod out of fiberglass I am sure was no easy task.

I just recovered over the hole. It was fairly simple and and the carpet is a pretty close match. The hardest part about putting the sub in the foot well was the main wiring harness that runs up through there. Mine did not have enough to reroute to one side of the box or the other.

Thanks. Not too difficult. Just time consuming. The beauty of it was that it did not have to be pretty since I was carpeting over it anyway.

My kick panel for the closed bow is a little different since there is a solid hump behind it. I have the sub box mounted on top of that behind where the wiring harness passes through to the bilge. Mine is open above the kick panel. So I have the sub firing sideways about a foot or so off the side of the hull.

My dealer had a lot of scrap carpet pieces that is used to pad shipments from CC. He had one just large enough for the pod. I may see if he has another piece to use over the blank.

[novaair]

My dealer had a lot of scrap carpet pieces that is used to pad shipments from CC. He had one just large enough for the pod. I may see if he has another piece to use over the blank.

That is a pretty sweet deal. I ended up using marine carpet from lowes. It is pretty close and in an area that you do not pay much attention to anyways. Although, it would be nice to have a direct match.