Cutting a hole in my boat???

[crackerjack]

Am I crazy?<br />I have an 18' bowrider with fiberglass liner in the bow. I've got a stereo/cd with two speakers in back, but want to add two speakers in the bow. I'm thinking about cutting holes in the bowliner with a dremel tool to install two 5" speakers up front. <br />There is enough room between the liner and hull for the back of the speakers to fit, but I am worried about weakening the structure of the boat. <br />I see many new bowriders that have front speakers as a factory equipment. Do they require extra reinforcment?<br />Is this project do-able or am I asking for trouble? <br /><br />Any advice is appreciated!

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

You will have no problem. Just cut/drill slowly and not too deep to make darn sure you don't hit anything important behind it (like wiring, or the hull!) And wear a dust mask, cutting fiberglass makes a mess and it's not healthy stuff for the lungs.

 

[Surffx]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

I've also herd it suggested to put something like duct tape around the outside of the cutting area so as not to chip the finish. I'm jealous...I wish I had a radio in my boat.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

how you gonna get wires to 'um..?? an down inside the skin to the speaker terminations.??

 

[crackerjack]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

crab bait,<br />The space between the hull and liner is open to the under seat storage in the bow. The wires will run from the speakers down through the underseat storage and back to the port side dash where the stereo is.<br /><br />Thanks to all for the feedback!

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

YA. Buy a nice boombox.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

You can cut the holes. Tape the area to minimize chipping. A jig saw with a relatively fine blade is another option if you have room to turn it.

 

[trog100]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

just turned my little boat into nearly a boom box.. cd/mp3 player in the side panel in front of the passenger seat.. four 6x9s in the engine cover.. those doghouse type engine covers make quite nice speaker enclosures..<br /><br />another 400 watt amp and a 12 inch speaker in the middle of the doghouse would make it into a real boom-box.. he he<br /><br /><br />i used one of those over-priced roto-zip tools to cut the holes.. <br /><br />trog

 

[KilroyJC]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

Those overpriced rotozsips have a nice circle-cutting jig for recessed lighting...if you have a rotozip (or better, FRIEND with a rotozip) get the jig - it'll be that much neater.

 

[trog100]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

my roto-zip came with a "free" circle cutting thingy.. it kinda fooled me into buying it.. he he..<br /><br />i saw the thing in my local big-W store.. it had 18 quid in big letters on the box.. i thought it was a special offer and bunged it in my trolley..<br /><br />at the check out "forty pounds please sir".. hmmmm..<br /><br />18 quid was the so called value of the "free" circle cutting thingy..<br /><br />being a lazy bugger i bought the thing anyways.. he he..<br /><br />i have a weakness for buying cheapo chinese tools just in case i might need em once in a blue moon.. thye dont seem to have gotten round to making a cheapo roto-zips thow.. he he <br /><br />trog

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

Originally posted by trog100:<br /> bunged it in my trolley..

If I got caught doing that at WallyWorld they'd ban me for sure

 

[trog100]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

"bunged it in my trolley" was intended to translate to "put it not exactly carefully in my shopping basket" dave..<br /><br />i cant help but feel that it would translate to something else as well for u and WallyWorld.. he he he..<br /><br />trog

 

[jeff fogel]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

If you're cuttting a hole in fiberglass it's very important to seal the edges of the hole with an epoxy, then seat the fixture (speakers in this case) with a polysulfide caulking. If you don't do this, any water that gets in will spread osmotically and that will weaken the boat.

 

[crackerjack]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

Follow-up...<br /><br />So I finally worked up the nerve and got my dremel tool out last weekend. Applied several strips of clear duct tape over the surface that was to be cut, and after taking measurements, drew my pattern onto the tape with a marker.<br />The dremel cut pretty easily through the fiberglass (bit #561) as long as it had a full charge on the battery.<br />The speakers look good and sound even better. The space behind the bowliner acts as a great speaker enclosure and really enhances the sound!<br /><br />Thanks for all the help!<br /><br />Before: <br />

<br /><br />After:<br />

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Cutting a hole in my boat???

Nice job.