Anybody else installed a "car" receiver in their boat?

[beernutz]

This weekend I replaced my 12 year old OEM Clarion receiver/CD player with a new JVC car receiver with all the current bells and whistles (bluetooth, 2 USBs, handheld mini wireless remote, support for multiple digital formats, choice of 30k different illumination colors, etc.) When I replaced my speakers and added new ones to the bow area, I went with marine or outdoor gear but for this I went out on a limb with just car equipment since the bang for the buck seemed better.

I looked at "marine" equipment but the same functionality seemed to cost twice as much, plus my glove box area where the receiver is installed is very protected. My boat is trailered spends 95% of its time out of the water as we've taken 40 trips over the last 2 years (730 days). I figure if I get 5 or 6 years of use out of it I'll be happy but I really think its going to last longer than that.

I was just curious if anyone else had gone this route?

 

[blaster]

I have had friends install car audio components in their boats without any real problems. As long as the components are protected from weather and water it will work ok. Corrosion can be an issue especially in coastal or humid areas. The speakers would be my main concern being exposed to the weather they won't hold up too great but if you trailer your boat and keep it in a garage they will hold up longer.

 

[Brian77]

The PO had installed a regular car stereo unit in my boat, and it appears to be at least 3 or 4 years old and it's still working fine. My unit is inside the cabin but my boat is in a salt water slip all summer. If it were to go bad I would replace it with another car stereo.

-Brian

 

[rondds]

Replaced the original (1989) Panasonic car stereo with a ordinary car stereo in 2004. The '89 was working and the '04 is still going strong.

 

[troyzstang]

You'll be fine. The marine units have a little extra protection over the circuit areas. I also installed a standard unit in my 1997 Signature with my audio installers recommendation.
Are you planning to install a wakeboard tower next spring? It's well worth the investment. H2o watersports has a great package deal.

 

[Bucit]

My last boat was a Aquasport 215 Explorer (cuddy cabin) and I installed an entire Sony Explode car system. The reason I went with the car system was the head unit had a 4 volt output which paired with a good amplifier made the system rock. I also had a 6 disc Sony changer and the RF wirless remote. The system worked great and lasted for years. I had a small leak which took out one of the amps but the stereo and disc changer were working when i sold it. I would definately do it again but will always have marine speakers.

 

[Pack66Dad]

my stereo is inside so why not? All my speakers outside are marine grade.

 

[beernutz]

Hey, thanks for all the feedback. I was pretty confident in my decision before but I feel even better now.

 

[CSR_Admin]

I would not recommend a car unit at all. There is literally hardly a day that goes by where somebody doesn't come in here or call needing to replace their "automotive" stereo with a marine grade stereo. Automotive stereos just don't hold up at all on boats. Sure, there are exceptions, but they are few and far between.

 

[govols019]

The cheap Sony automotive radio I had in my old boat was going on 6 years old when I sold the boat and was still working fine.