Cutting fiberglass for a speaker - will it affect the structural integrity of boat?

[jkust]

Well, some people don't pay enough income tax

Ha ha...that's funny.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The speaker has a metal frame. Any strength you loose with the hole gets replaced by the speaker. Thru bolt it well if your worried.

A small ring of 18 gauge steel is no where as strong as the 1/4" plus thick fiberglass cut out

 

[Stumpalump]

A small ring of 18 gauge steel is no where as strong as the 1/4" plus thick fiberglass cut out

Good thing that 18 guage ring is supported with a metal cone that goes to a rock solid magnet that is surrounded by more steel. Decent speakers are very strong and engineered to be a solid structure that replaces the cut out material so they won't flex and distort the sound.

 

[ondarvr]

A cutout for a speaker can be placed just about anywhere on a boat and have little affect on the strength, you could leave the hole open and it will normally be fine as far strength goes.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

A 8" hole won't sink your boat unless you cut it below the water line. Luckily around our Lake home we are all old foggies, except my wife of course, and loud music isn't an issue. Not anymore at least. I was in my 30's when we bought this place and my wife just turned 30, we got loud some days and evenings. The poor neighbours, incessant loops of Dean Martin and Louis Prima followed by Cool and the Gang.

 

[GMTK]

Decided against cutting the fiberglass. Found some speakers that would mount to the 1" Bimini and house some 4" speakers. Got one mounted and while they aren't overly loud, they will work to keep the wife happy. Thanks for the input from all those who responded.

 

[GMTK]

Here are the speakers and mounts. Glad I went this route instead of cutting the boat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvr1yvg8Nx4