Stereo?

[coop]

New to boats. I bought an older Nautique to pull me and friends around the lake this year. I want to add a stereo system. Do I need marine equpment or will regular stereo and speakers work. I know water shoudn't be in boat but what about when it rains or people getting out of the water. Thanks in advance.

[skinautique]

I would stick with marine equipment. The stuff will get wet from people throwing around life jackets and the possible rain, etc.

[morfoot]

Hey coop I've got a 88' 2001 and I dropped in a sony (45 watts per channel) cd player two years ago. I only paid 100 for it at circuit city and have not had a single problem with it. I don't have a radio cover for it either. The boat is always garaged so I don't see a problem installing a non-marine type radio. Speakers are the same way. Non-marine type and the've work great since I bought the boat from a bud who put the speakers in 5 years ago. I guess alot of it depends on if you are gonna keep it garaged or not.

[ag4ever]

If you will be in a salty environment (just salt air even, and not even using it in salt water), then you must use marine equipment, or it will stop working in short order. If you are using it in freshwater, and not near any salt exposure, then the regular equipment should be just fine.

the main difference between "marine" equipment and regular equipment is that the marine equipment's circuit boards are coated, and regular equipment has non-protected circuit boards.

My dad has had a radio in his boat for over 20 years, and it still works fine, and it was an old radio that he took out of one of his cars. This is even after some short exposure in salt conditions. It is in his glove box fairly well protected though.