Installing LED TV on 2004 340 Sundancer Bulkhead Wall

KevinC

Well-Known Member
Feb 25, 2011
3,813
Long Island, NY
Boat Info
2004 340 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 V-drives
After reading through some of the installation threads I finally ventured on upgrading the TV in our cabin. I started by removing the pull out TV from the cabinet by the galley and forward birth no particular reason for this except that is was time to go and then I went about installing a new 32" Samsung TV on the bulkhead. Some things have changed since reading the other installs - primarily the weight of the TVs and the brackets needed. This TV is light can easily be held with one hand and therefore I felt I was able to mount to the bulkhead without through bolting to the helm - I will monitor to see if I need to have the additional support.

The following posts will also show some pictures and details that I wish I could have seen before starting.

-Kevin
 
First we started with the positioning. The 32 inch was chosen because it would neatly fit on the wall and clear the cabinet door covering our power panel that swings open. I started by taping a piece of paper to the bulkhead to mark and make some initial marks. I wanted to make sure the top of the TV aligned to the top of the bulkhead so I dropped a perpendicular line using a large right angle guide. Using the right angle I was able to mark the holes for my slide in bracket. This bracket was chosen since it would give me the closest fit and the bulkhead angle worked for this without adjustment.

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Next I began to remove the surface vinyl that is foam backed. I carefully cut along the outline with a razor and then removed the material. It is pretty easy as it is applied using spray glue on the backing plywood.

Once the material was removed I mounted the bracket directly to the backing wall. A little extra material needed to be removed at the top to help facilitate sliding the mount in.

After this I did a quick test mount of the TV on the wall.

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After this it was time to move on to providing power and cable. I first drilled a pilot hole to see what I was dealing with then I created and opening tempate for a outlet size hole and removed the vinyl again.

Next I needed to remove the access hole so I added a screw and string to prevent the cut out from dropping in and probably forever bouncing around inside. I made the cut through the plywood backing with a plunge saw (you know the reciprocating saw from dremel - except mine is from harbor freight).

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Once the hole was made and the plywood removed to gave me a much better look. The rear access is barely1 inch deep. To fish the wire I removed the DC portion of the power panel and snaked a long stiff wire into the compartment. It was not hard nor was it easy - basically because of the tight space. I wound up crimping a ring on the end of the wire and fishing it in. The picture shown is where you would access it - behind the black piece in the lower right of the picture. With the ring terminal I was able to one hand thread a wire that I would use to pull the power to the TV.

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After pulling the power cable I trimmed the opening with some split loom to provide protection for the cable. I also added a mount where I could tie off my pull line.

I was luck I found AC power was install by the PO in the area next to the helm accessible by removing the panel with the speaker and the cup holder. So I was able to power from there and snake the cable down into the power cabinet. Long term this will be changed. I selected this TV since it is powered by DC 19V - so I plan on installing a DC step-up regulator so that this TV can run off battery.

I also plan on re-routing the cable feeding the TV - got to search this out. I would like to install the Glomex amp controller in the storage area in the mid-cabin next to this area (removing it from up front). I also plan on feeding the drop down TV a signal from this area also. I did remove the DVD player and plan on providing FireTV over Coax to any TV on board - but that is another project and post.

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Very helpful. I just bought a 2004 320 Sundancer and this is one of the first things I am going to do. I am very glad to see that I can cut into that wall without getting into the fiberglass.
 
Great post and thanks! I just installed a tv in the cockpit and was thinking this might be next.
 
Great post and thanks! I just installed a tv in the cockpit and was thinking this might be next.

I want the add one up there too but starting the cockpit sink replacement soon so I may do some preliminary work. It would be easy to just drop a coax from the glomex but I want to run it through the amp and eventually feed FireTV to all TVs over the coax.

-Kevin
 
I want the add one up there too but starting the cockpit sink replacement soon so I may do some preliminary work. It would be easy to just drop a coax from the glomex but I want to run it through the amp and eventually feed FireTV to all TVs over the coax.

-Kevin

Yeah I didn’t get that complex yet. I just drilled into the arch and ran the power cable to my inverter which lives behind the fridge.

During the install ..tv is on a swing mount.

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Nice Job. I recently added a television to the forward berth, and am very pleased with it. It's nice being able to watch the news in the morning without waking everyone else up.
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Nice job, looks great! Thanks for the detailed install much appreciated.
As for the other folks with TVs on their decks, any issues with weather? You remove tv when a storm is brewing?
 
Looks good ! Do you guys with the TV's on the bulkhead next to the stairs watch it from the couch ? Seems like I would get a sore neck. I used a RAM mount on the cockpit TV above the sink.
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...Seems like I would get a sore neck...

We do not tend to spend much time in the cabin except for nights or on rainy days. Based on the way we use the boat if we are confined to the cabin me and the wife tend to hang out on the bed to watch TV and the kids are either in the mid cabin or laying on the salon couch watching. So this angle works well. Day to day it is generally just background entertainment for the little time we are in the cabin.

For the cockpit I plan an using the pole mount from Flounder Pounder (http://www.searay-parts.com/Flat-screen-TV-mounting-bracket-p/mntbrkt 10001tvmountbrkt.htm) that you insert a socket that the mount drops in. I will probably use a similar bracket to this install on the back so that I can remove the TV for storage. I also plan on making a canvas cover just to throw over.

-Kevin
 
...I recently added a television to the forward berth...

Looks good and I had the same thoughts about having a separate one up front for just that reason. Initially I was investigating adding a flip down TV to serve this purpose but my budget is spoken for this year (still have alot of projects going on) so I will figure that out for next.

-Kevin
 
Nice job, looks great! Thanks for the detailed install much appreciated.
As for the other folks with TVs on their decks, any issues with weather? You remove tv when a storm is brewing?

I don’t plan to remove. The canvas is usually up if it’s raining and that keeps it mostly dry in the cockpit. I did however get a weather proof cover for the tv for when it’s not in use. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Outdoor-Cover...+for+tv+24&dpPl=1&dpID=41sKupZRDXL&ref=plSrch
 
Funny, I was just looking at that on amazon as well! Thanks.
 
Man....when do you guys find time to watch so much TV!!!???

Things I like to stare at when boating: 1.) a full cooler, 1a.) my wife, 2.) bigger/better boats than mine, 3.) the water, 4.) the sky, 5.) a half empty cooler, D.) dock neighbors, 8.) my kids not getting screen time, G.) a fire pit, 12.) my phone trying to find the next song to play.

Joking aside these are some beautiful installs. It makes me want to install them just because they look slick...whether or not I'd actually use them.
 

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