Help!! front mount speakers in SAN

[99SAN]

Im trying to mount my 6.5" speakers on the front of the upholstery instead of behind with the pantyhose covers. I have tried finding the old thread explaining in detail, with pictures, but I couldn't find it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Chexi]

I think the best thread is actually not on this site. I think it might be on wakeworld.com. Ultimately, you can use some L brackets or metal strapping formed into the shape of L brackets attached to the PVC pipe and then you can screw the speakers into the L brackets.

[99SAN]

Well the last thread that was posted, the guy cut out MDF circles and mounted them between the upholstery, but I can find the exact way he did it.... thanks

[Chexi]

I would use cutting board material instead of MDF. If you use MDF, you will have to glass it.

[BrearlyMason]

It was Grant West's thread...

Here it is!

[Chexi]

Ah Grant West... not the thread I was thinking of, but Grant has done about every project imagineable... and done them extremely well.

[h2ohangtime]

I used MDF speaker rings in mine and it all worked pretty well. You have to cut two rings (sometimes three for the really thick areas in the bow) and the top one has to be 1/2". The speaker flange should fit completely inside the top ring but will actually mount to the front-facing surface of the inner ring. Once you glue the rings together, use epoxy resin (you don't need to completely fiberglass them) to seal them and then install them. You'll have to pull the staples out of the back of the vinyl to get at the inside. Once you do this, pull out the existing PVC rings, trim the padding to fit the new rings, and then screw the new rings in from the rear. Re-staple the vinyl to the inside of the ring and mount the speaker. Voila, front-mounted speakers.

If you look for threads here, I think Brandon Holmes (BMH2008) had a long thread where he did this (should be about halfway through). Good luck...

[99SAN]

Yep, that is the one I was looking for. I forgot that the speaker build was in the spring cleaning. Does anyone know what size MDF did he used? I know the top is 1/2" but I'm not sure about the bottom circle. Thanks

[liquid-diet]

this is what we did a few years ago





i removed the existing inner PVC rings, removed the vinyl piping and screen cover, and trimmed the rings a little shorter. after trimming i attached brackets to PVC and mounted speakers onto brackets. Then all was need was to slide speaker/PVC assemble back into side panels and mount with screws from rear.

pic from rear

[h2ohangtime]

Yep, that is the one I was looking for. I forgot that the speaker build was in the spring cleaning. Does anyone know what size MDF did he used? I know the top is 1/2" but I'm not sure about the bottom circle. Thanks

I don't know what size he used, but I can tell you that I used 3/4" for the bottom and 1/2" for the top in the main part of the boat and I used 3 rings (two 3/4" rings and a 1/2" ring) for the bow because the foam was thicker. Once you get the pads out of the boat and remove the MDF rings, you can easily measure the thickness and make the call that way. In my experience, if you're off by 1/4" it's not going to be very noticeable.

One other word of caution--if you don't have a pneumatic stapler, getting the vinyl back onto the fiberglass portion of the bow pad is nearly impossible. I didn't feel like buying one, so I ended up taking the bow pad to the upholstery shop down the street and they stapled it for me.

[99SAN]

Well I get my upholsery back in a couple weeks and I'll know then what thickness I will use, also, I've got 4 Polk DB651 as tower speakers and I purchased 4 polk MM marine and can't decide if I should put the MM in the tower cans or in the boat. Any input would be great, thanks

[Chexi]

You will not likely be able to hear the polks at wakeboard riding distance. They are not designed to throw the sound a long distance. Tower speakers are just for show other than those based on (a) HLCDs (Wetsounds, NVS, Bullets, and the new Kickers) or (b) the Kicker KMT6 horns.

[BrearlyMason]

You will not likely be able to hear the polks at wakeboard riding distance. They are not designed to throw the sound a long distance. Tower speakers are just for show other than those based on (a) HLCDs (Wetsounds, NVS, Bullets, and the new Kickers) or (b) the Kicker KMT6 horns.

I can hear my 6x9's easily at 80ft. Of course it isn't as clear as a Wetsounds system, but I can hear them...

[ers906]

I have the Samsons (compression drivers), and hear them a clear as the cabin speakers at 80 ft. Plus love the quick release RCA style jacks on the mounts. Makes life a ton easier and saves the speakers from our AZ sun

[Chexi]

I can hear my 6x9's easily at 80ft. Of course it isn't as clear as a Wetsounds system, but I can hear them...

What brand? Are they compression drivers? I also assume you mean you can hear them at riding speed at 80'. That is impressive, and I didn't know there were any other speakers out there that could do this other then HCLD's and the Kicker horn KMT6s. Live and learn.