Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

[Sea Ray]

I want to mount a sub woofer speaker box in my boat and I am thinking of mounting it on the kickboard at the drivers seat.

Please see attached picture and note the slanted floor, under the ignition but as far forward as I can get.

I would like to know if any one has any idea what is under this panel.

The boat is a 1999 210 Sea Ray Open Bow.

I was thinking I would build a box for the sub then run some screws into the floor to hold it in place. But, I have no idea what is under there and I don't want to go putting holes in the boat in places I shouldn't be .

Thanks!!

 

[jcsftwre]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

More often than not you will have wood stringers covered or not with fiberglass under the deck that is some sort of plywood. Then there may or may not be foam for flotation or support. But the question is this ?Do you really want to make an access for water to get down there?? Water under the deck is one of the worse things you could have and severely shorten the life span of your boat.

I would see if one side of Velcro will stick to the carpet! If so then put the other side on the speaker just make sure you use a big piece of Velcro to hold the speaker. If this works you then can also move it as needed. I myself would even rather (if it was my boat) sew one side of the Velcro to the carpet and put the other side on the speaker bottom.

Hey stop by this forum http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22 look at some of the rebuild boat photo and you will see what it looks like under there. Most boats are at least close to being built the same. Close but not exact. Spend a short time looking at some of the threads talking about rebilds, look for photos.

 

[salty87]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

don't know that answer but you might consider trying to get access behind the panel for the windshield walkthru instead of opening up the floor.

what's the area look like when looking under the bow seat immediately in front of the driver? i can see thru to the driver's feet on mine, sub fits great.

is there room on the other side of the boat where there isn't leg room taking up space?...basically under the other side of the dash?

oh yeah, screws in the floor need to be sealed. brackets attached to the dash would be better if possible.

 

[oops!]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

there is nothing serious or major there.

 

[Sea Ray]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

WOW, wide range of answers!!

The velcro is a good idea, I thought of that too but not sure how well it will hold. I can probably mount it well enough above somehow that the velcro wouldn't have to do much.

I have no access from the front. The bow seats are there and the fiberglass enclosure goes all the way around and to the floor.

The opposite side is just like this side and I was planning on mounting the amps over there. If I decide to add a second sub (don't think I would need that though) I may end up with one on each side.

 

[jcsftwre]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

WOW, wide range of answers!!

The velcro is a good idea, I thought of that too but not sure how well it will hold. I can probably mount it well enough above somehow that the velcro wouldn't have to do much.

I have no access from the front. The bow seats are there and the fiberglass enclosure goes all the way around and to the floor.

The opposite side is just like this side and I was planning on mounting the amps over there. If I decide to add a second sub (don't think I would need that though) I may end up with one on each side.

I used velcro to hold my shift light and tac in my Camaro SS that ran high 10's in the qrt. It never came off.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

I have mounted speakers there before. If like mine, that is simply a fiberglass divider between the driver's floorboard and the underseat storage in the bow. Don't box the sub. Cut and mount the sub directly. The bow seat storage is your box. Sounds great and does not take up much room. Go slow, and cut away.

 

[lkbum]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

Just a minor comment... Anytime you "cut" or make a permanent mod like this, you may be taking a little of the resale value away from your boat. Unless your potential purchaser, at some point down the road, wants the sub and wants it in the same place ... It will be a ding against your boat. You have a relatively high end boat that will hold it's value well and usually bring top dollar in the used market if it is well maintained. I'd go with the velcro and leave the boat as original as possible...

 

[oops!]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

I have mounted speakers there before. If like mine, that is simply a fiberglass divider between the driver's floorboard and the underseat storage in the bow. Don't box the sub. Cut and mount the sub directly. The bow seat storage is your box. Sounds great and does not take up much room. Go slow, and cut away.

if the boat has open storage under the bow seat....that will work fine....

however i think there is foam under that seat.....solid foam......so if you choose not to go to sub boxes....you will have to carve out the foam for the cubic foot needs of the speaker....you will essentally be making a sub box out of foam

 

[Sea Ray]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

My intent is to built a removable box that the sub will mount in.

While I appreciate all the replies and help, I think some are getting off topic. I was simply asking about mounting the box by putting screws into the floor. I do not want to cut into the floor, make a hole in the kickboard or turn my bow storage space into a sub box.

The space under my bow seats does not extend into or under the kick board. The space under the seats is it's own fiberglass compartment. There is no access between the 2 without making big holes. When you remove the bow cushions it looks like a small fiberglass tub inside (there isn't even a flat space big enough to mount the speaker).

Also, between the bow storage space and the kick board is a storage "closet" with a door that faces the middle of the boat. The door is in the walkway going into the bow (you can see it on the edge of the picture). The outside of the cabinet is where the fuse box is mounted in the picture. It does not go all the way to the floor. It stops where the slanted floor can be seen.

Under the cabinet and above the slanted floor is where I would like to place the sub box.

I realize there are as many (if not more) places and ways to mount a sub as there are boats but I tend to agree with ikbum. I don't want to hurt the value of the boat by making unnecessary holes, for 2 reasons - the next owner might not want the sub and I may not want to sell them the sub. If it is in a removable box, I can simply take it out before I sell it.

I understand the bass can be better when the sub is mounted to the fiberglass because the sound can resonate through the entire boat. And maybe someday I will try that. But for starters, I just want to mount the sub in a box.

 

[turborich]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

I would say it will be fine, just don't use too long of a screw. You may want to coat the threads with some sealant like silicone to prevent any water intrusion. good luck.

 

[oops!]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

anything you want to do to a boat, can be done....and you can get lots of help here with the project......


on a side note.....some people arent afraid to cut into a boat

heh heh heh

 

[salty87]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

my initial thought on velcro is that a sub generates a significant amount of vibrations, boats are already a rough platform...i would want a little more. also, a sub in a box will weight a good 50 lbs, it's not really going anywhere (not up at least, it can slide around). elbow brackets into the box and dash should be sufficient to prevent sliding.

you're gonna want to pick a speaker first, they all have varying requirements for box size. there are also subs that are free-air...mount them on a board instead of a box. you might re-consider that option, otherwise the box will take all of your leg room.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

Oops, I just wanna caption that pic with "HEY! I found where it leaks!"

 

[Sea Ray]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

Nice pic!!

The sub I have is actually a free air sub. It is an Alpine Type R SWR-M100.

I have been told, even though it doesn't have to be in a box, it will sound better if it is. The recommended enclosure size is like 4.5 cu ft - which just seems huge.

I am going to start by mounting it on a flat board and see how it sounds. But I think it would also look better if I get it in an enclosure. I am still waiting on the new head unit, it should be here Monday. I will still playing around with it then.

Does anyone have any experience with this particular speaker?

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[salty87]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

i'm not familiar with that sub. i have a jl audio, my box is about 16x16x16, outside dimensions....just under 2 cu ft, inside dimensions.

free-air subs need alot of space, a good bit of power too. sealed boxes give you more bang for your buck in regard to space and power requirements.

install wise, if you don't have the room to hide the box...mounting on a board actually looks cleaner. the board hides everything behind it, all you see is the speaker cover. carpet or wrap the board with something.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

I'm boxing in the open area under the stern seats, mounting my Alpine MR-100
on the port side. Also my power amp, distribution switch, and charging system for the three batteries will be located inside. I'll have lift off tops for storage / access to electronics, and the stern seats will be held in-place with small rails and snap straps. I also may place a small 2-3 inch diameter hole in front of the panel to port the sub. I'll post pics as I proceed. Working on front deck platform to fish from currently.... All will be removable, and no altering the boats stock structure.

 

[jcsftwre]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

Sea Ray,
It sounds like you have a very nice boat there and what little I can see in the photo seems to show that. Can you post a photo of the whole boat for me?
I know it does not have anything to do with your current project but I would like to have to opportunity to drool for a little while.
Also it will give an over-all appreciation for the project that your working on.
Rick

 

[lkbum]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

I'm boxing in the open area under the stern seats, mounting my Alpine MR-100
on the port side. Also my power amp, distribution switch, and charging system for the three batteries will be located inside. I'll have lift off tops for storage / access to electronics, and the stern seats will be held in-place with small rails and snap straps. I also may place a small 2-3 inch diameter hole in front of the panel to port the sub. I'll post pics as I proceed. Working on front deck platform to fish from currently.... All will be removable, and no altering the boats stock structure.

You planning on THUMPING them fish into submission????

 

[jcsftwre]

Re: Can I put screws in this area? Pic Attached...

anything you want to do to a boat, can be done....and you can get lots of help here with the project......


on a side note.....some people arent afraid to cut into a boat

heh heh heh

In the famous words of Myth Busters, ?there?s your problem right there! Someone made the darn boat to short!?​