New Stereo Time

[MrG]

Here is where the Factory Head unit used to sit. This is gonna be where a EQ can install. My fingers are crossed I won’t need to use a EQ but just in case I’m gonna plan to use one. So I figured I would make the mount in advance.

 

[MrG]

Now I’ll use some fiberglass resin over the top of this piece and paint it

 

[MrG]

1st Coat of Resin over some MDF. I’m sure it will need a 2nd coat and then prime and paint

 

[Timdelta]

Mdf and water are not friends. Mdf is a loser in that environment. Work is impressive by the way.

 

[MrG]

“Mdf is a loser in that environment.”
If water ever gets up to the inside of the bottom side of my drivers Helm THEN I have much bigger problems to worry about then a Resin Coated MDF EQ holder lOL

 

[Potomacbassin’]

Mdf and water are not friends. Mdf is a loser in that environment. Work is impressive by the way.

You're right but painted/coated it should be OK? I also presume this was chosen to be able to cut/rout it easier to the proper dimension. Solid pine or oak probably better.

King starboard is probably the best stuff but holy smokes that stuff is expensive these days. Just purchased a 5" x 24" x 1" slab and it was $28 ($50 including shipping).

 

[Timdelta]

You’re right the starboard is crazy expensive. I use the plastic wood trim stuff at Home Depot or Lowes as a poor man’s replacement. When I was speaking about water, I was thinking more in the realm of moisture or humidity trashing the Mdf, (over time) not a submersion. The submersion scenario is obviously catastrophic for all components on the boat.

 

[MrG]

When the MDF is completely covered in Resin and painted it’s more than fine for my application. I don’t live in the swamp so Humidity is not an issue. But I do understand what you’re talking about depending on your location and how you use and store your boat it may not be a material to use. With that said I made Hundreds of parts using the method and I have never had an issue. That being said, King Starboard is awesome I just didn’t feel like going down to the store and getting any. I just reached in my scrap pile of wood and 20 mins later I had a part. I love working with MDF. It sands so nice and easy. I made the amp board out of Marine Plywood, that stuff splinters & when you drill a hole in it the blow out of the back side is lame. O well!
Good thing it’s only trim & miscellaneous parts we are talking about.

 

[Timdelta]

The one thing everyone agrees on is— the work is impressive.

 

[MrG]

The Remote showed up.
Here is the stock Sony Dash remote. The Orignal Sony remote was huge. I made the light colord trim ring to size for this smaller Sony remote.

 

[MrG]

Here is the Hole left behind.

 

[MrG]

And here is the MB Quart remote installed. I was happy to not have had to make the stock remote hole any larger. The Original Sony dash remote was pretty big as you can see.

 

[MrG]

Well I messed up!!!!! I was installing this unit and I went to grab the RCAs to hook them up and noticed the tag on the 1 and Only RCA. Says (AUX IN) this unit has no pre amp (low voltage) outputs!!!!! Dammmmmmm! I really wanted this to work. O well Amazon is great for returns.
I’m gonna get the Kicker BT source unit it has Pre Amp outputs I made sure LOL

 

[MrG]

So this is what I’m gonna use for my BT- Source Unit. This JL BT unit will provide signal to the ARC audio EQ. Fingers crossed I have a feeling this JL remote will fit in the same trim ring I made for my Sony remote

 

[MrG]

EQ installed

 

[MrG]

Seeing how people loved my MDF EQ mount I figured I would make another piece, here is my Remount Filler piece

 

[Timdelta]

How did you get that texture? Beautiful work!

 

[MrG]

It’s Vinyl, a scrap piece from the center parts of our new interior

 

[Michiman]

Seeing how people loved my MDF EQ mount I figured I would make another piece, here is my Remount Filler piece

Show off! Lol! I imagine you were the kid in shop class running circles around the rest of us. I was always more impressed with them than I was the star jock.

 

[MrG]

Awww come on! No showing off just excited to finally get some quality tunes after 10+ years of banging a stock stereo system. I figured I would spark some of you to do the same . My other boat has a crazy stereo and the Benny just never got any stereo love. And this system is by in no ways crazy I have seen people here with WAY more. This is Nothing. I still have plans for a 2nd battery & a Xantrex Inverter Charger!