This article is intended to help you select the right marine audio equipment, identify the various components that complete your marine audio kit, their specifications, and choose an appropriate location for each component.

A good starting point is the more familiar interiors of your car. The car audio components are secured from exposure to the harsh elements of the environment by the vehicle’s watertight chamber. Out in the sea, stiff weather conditions varying from high humidity and salinity to intense ultraviolet rays from the sun create an abrasive atmosphere. If you have not fit the right equipment in the right place, chances are high that your prized possession will turn into disposables in no time. So weather protection and placement are key factors to consider when equipping your boat with an audio system.

If you are able to identify based on the jargons what type of weather protection gear is available, you could pass the first test in marine audio equipment selection. For instance, water resistant gear cannot be submerged. At the most they can handle drizzle or light shower. Genuine waterproof equipment can be submerged for different durations and at different depths. Receiver faceplates, speaker cones, and grilles may be labeled UV resistant indicating that they can withstand sun damage. And anti-corrosive coating/plating on components such as circuit boards, connections, and chassis protect the components from the damaging effects of salt water.

Each component in the audio gear must pass the weather protection test and be fit for use miles away from the shore. A radio with shielded circuit board, water-resistant faceplate and cover, and satellite communication devices can be used as receivers. Speakers should be powerful to beat the effects of wind, water, and engine noise and well-protected from the corrosive elements. Polypropylene cones, rubber surrounds, durable mounts, and magnetic shielding allow you to virtually mount your speakers and subs anywhere, even near the compass, without having to worry about damage. For hassle-free mounting in difficult places, enclosed subs or subs with air rated components are particularly useful. Because salt water can corrode exposed wires, all the wiring should be plated with tin.

One important audio component you can borrow from your car or home is the marine-rated plug-and-play satellite radio. Marine receivers can be programmed with an external tuner and satellite radio antenna to extend radio reception up to 200 miles away from the shore. Choosing the right GPS navigation can bring home additional benefits like rechargeable batteries, sun-proof bright color screen, and Wide Area Augmentation System for painless navigation. If your boat is equipped with a power inverter, it cuts down unwanted cabling and serves all your short-term power requirements including charging camcorder battery or laptop computer.

Once you have the kit ready, your next task is to install them in the right places. In a car you know exactly where to place the panels, speakers, subs, and so on. Whereas, inside a boat, you may face many challenges including power constraints and space constraints. Installing receivers and speakers may require cutting panels or cabling the components with lengthy wires. Amps and subs can be accommodated under the seats or bow or on the wakeboard tower. Side panels or dashboard is roomy enough to host midrange speakers and tweeters. You can do most of these tasks yourself but when it comes to grounding components, you may need to consult your manufacturer.

Quick summary before we wind up. Even though each component may be marine rated, you may want to add another layer of protection with a universal cover that can be unveiled only to expose the controls. If you don’t want to expose the receiver, a waterproof remote control can be used. For higher decibels and improved sound quality, select a radio with high signal-to-noise rating, wide frequency response range, and high RMS power. You can consider adding an external amplifier to boost the four-way amp built into most marine receivers.