215 DC radio location

[pigbike]

I am going to put a stereo radio in my boat and wonder if anyone out there has one mounted right above the built in tackle box.  I saw one mounted that way in a photo, and assume there is room there, but never saw one in person. I guess if there is clearance behind the radio it is the best spot for it. Has anyone installed one there?

[Mulv80]

My stereo is located above the tackle storage. Theres plenty of clearance behind there.  I don't have the freshwater option in my sink area so I ran an ipod contol cord from the back of the stereo up through the sink drain.  My Ipod is well protected from the elements.  I also went with a stereo that has a wireless remote so I can control it from the helm or when swimming at the island.

you can see my stereo in these pictures.

[pigbike]

Mulv, That is what I want to do. Should have the radio tomorrow according to UPS. I guess there is plenty of room for speakers is the sides also.

[Mulv80]

You can't see my speaker locations that well but one is right above the livewell and the other is visible in the first picture.  There is plenty of clearance for the speakers on the passenger side, just be careful drilling above the livewell.  I can't remember how close the fuel lines are but they are definetly in that vicinity.  Just don't drill too deep.  Or take out the rod box and you can see exactly what your doing, just be careful with the rod boxes.  They get brittle after years in the sun and can crack easily around the radius.

[pigbike]

I think the wiring is on the helm side also. Darn sure I don't want to cut them either. I will remove the rod box.  I took the other one out and your right about them being brittle. I wonder what to replace them with went they finally decide to fall apart.

I see you have the lounge seat also.

[Georgie]

Minor derail, but regarding the rod boxes, the ones in my wellcraft developed some BAD cracks but I was able to salvage and reinforce them by removing the boxes, aggressively sanding the backside w/a coarse grit sandpaper and covering with a layer of epoxy and glass.  The epoxy adhere's well to the roughed up plastic and the finshed/cured support layer provides plenty of strength to the UV-weakened plastic.  Working on the backside only allows you keep the finish and color in the exposed side too so you need little to no fine sanding, feathering, and recoating.  

FYI - this is MUCH easier project to do proactively before the rod-boxes actually start to crack.  Once the cracks develop it's hard to find ways to support the boxes so that it all stays properly aligned while glassing.

Good luck with the stereo mount PB!

[pigbike]

Ryan,
 Thats a good tip. Your right about fixing them before they get too bad. They aren't very thick to begin with and with the back side buildup they might last another 10 years.

[seabob4]

Not to continue Ryan's derail, but every year during summer shutdown (I would work, why not some extra cash!!) we would replace dozens of the those rod pockets on boats shrink wrapped out in the yard.  1 year and they would crack in the heat inside that shrink wrap...

Plastic transom trim too on the Ospreys and Explorers...  

[Mulv80]

Flounder Pounder and Marine Connection Liquadtors have alot of rod boxes and I'm sure some can be made to fit pretty easily.  I got lucky and was able to purchase a NOS rod box on ebay last year to replace a cracked one on my boat.

[Capt. Bob]

OK,
I give up.

What the hell is a "rod box" on a 215 walkthru?

Thanks.

[pigbike]

It's not really a rod box, it's just the recessed area under the gunnel on both sides of the boat.  It's more for shorter items like a cleaning brush, boat hook etc. I guess it's ok for short rods but I don't use it for rods.

[Capt. Bob]

OK then,
Is that some form of insert rather than part of the cap?

Interesting. I've never seen a 215 DC in the flesh.

Any pics?

[seabob4]

Here you go Bob...



A removable insert, some AS and WC models had them, some didn't.  The Scarab 302 Sport at the house has them.  The WC 220 and 240 CCFs had them, the AS Ospreys and Explorers didn't.  Some call them rod boxes, we called them rod pockets.  Vacu-formed ABS, and in the early days before stabilized plastics and good UV inhibitors, well, .....they cracked.

The 215 DC really is a sweet boat, excellent for fishing and for family stuff.  Always loved that boat...

[pigbike]

Well my radio appeared today at the front door. Looks pretty nice for a hundred bucks, radio, speakers and splash cover. Much better than expected. Now all I need is to get it installed. The wife has me repainting a bedroom and cleaning carpets so it's on the back burner for now.

My son said wait for him knowing my wiring capabilities . I guess he lost faith in me trying to wire a air horn on my Harley. When I was done it didn't work and the left directional was now not working. I'm sticking to putting batteries in my flashlight. Actually it was more involved as there was a motor fan, and some kind of other doodad involved in the wiring.

Roy

[seabob4]

Doodads...those dreaded doodads...