Stereo installation in a boat.

[IndyEFI500]

One of my co-workers installed a stereo in his boat. I am not sure how he installed the antennae but sitting in his garage the reception comes and goes. My bet was grounding. He then asked how to ground it properly and I drew a blank. Does anyone have any recommendations? I am going to do the same to my boat this summer and will gladly use his as a test unit. We both have aluminum boats. His is a Norhtwoods and mine is an old Lund.

[jgeatz]

If you have an instrument panel, there should be a ground there, if not just run a line back to the battery

[JEV]

Exactly, I have a fiberglass boat and installed a radio last year. I have a separate ground line that runs right back to the batteries negative terminal.

JEV

[hoggs222]

I used to install car stereos quite a bit. What I always did for a good solid ground is find a thicker piece of metal and use some good grit sandpaper to remove the paint and ground it with a smaller bolt.

[bucketmouth64]

I've thought about putting one in my boat. My question is, does the vibration from the sound echo into the water? I have an aluminum boat and I always thought that having music playing would scare off the fish because of the vibration.

[Little Joe]

As long as you don't play rap music you should be just fine.

[joe joe]

the sound really don't mess up your fishing the largest largemouth i have every caught 5.9 i was plaing rap in was nelly and shake your tailfeather the tunes where loud and thumpin i had two 8'' kicker speakers in the boat and a good radio with a 110watt amp but the soundd don't matter for bass and northerns but walleyes in 8 fow or less don't like it as much oh sunnys don't care to much for bumpin if you go as far as i did with the sound system don't kill your batter

[IndyEFI500]

Thanks for the input eveyrone.

JoeJoe:

I am guessing that you didn't catch that bass but snagged it because he was deaf from the concussion waves>

[Steve Bakken]

Hey, Joe Joe,

Are you sure that the bass wasn't just trying to end it's misery?