Official 215 Express Thread

[Phi502]

Yes. Inside the cabinet....but that was because my head unit is in that shelf. If mine was at the helm, I may have chosen a different location, or in the helm as you and cliff were talking about

Both positive and negative were installed directly to the battery, with a fuse in between the positive. I routed mine from the batteries, which are on the port side. I went from the port gunwale to the bulk head/stringer which is by the passenger seat. If I remember, I had to take out the port side speaker and drill a one 1" hole through the stringer/bulkhead. Then I pushed 3/4" split duct through the hole, grabbed it on the other end and pulled. Once the duct was sort of in place, I worked the 4 awg cables through it. When I got through the stringer, it is all open to the cabinet. I cable tied and climbed everything down approx. 8"-10" so there would be limited movement.

So were you able to add the JL 7.7's in the existing cockpit location?
where did you put you sub? It sounds like you have a very similar setup to what I am considering doing.

 

[OllieC]

So were you able to add the JL 7.7's in the existing cockpit location?
where did you put you sub? It sounds like you have a very similar setup to what I am considering doing.

I had to make the holes bigger. The 7.7's come with a template. I took the stock speakers out and then figured out with the template the best position. I traced it out and then cut it with my dremel tool. It was fairly easy, but the pucker factor is there because you're drilling into your baby.

So I have my 7.7's at the helm position and passenger position.

As far as the sub, i put it in an enclosure from AudioFormz. I am not sure if they make it anymore. It was $100 on ebay. http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/54550.jpg
I put the sub and the enclosure on the floor in the cuddy and run a speaker cable from the amp in the cabinet and through the seats. It's not an ideal place but I didn't want to drill a 10" hole in the boat. JLAudio also makes a 10" enclosure for their subs as well. It's a shiny nickel though.

As far as the speaker wiring - here's how I have it.

Cockpit speakers JL 7.7" - front - channel stereo 1&2 L/R on high output from JLM400/4 amp
Sub JLM10" - sub out -channels 3/4 BRIDGED to sub set on low output
Cuddy speakers - Stock speakers on rear head unit speaker channel/wires

I have the capability to run 5 speakers. If I don't want any sound in the cuddy I move the fader to the front speakers.

 

[Dan-o]

I have a 1998 215EC where are you all mounting the on board battery charger? Any suggestions?
thanks

dan

 

[OllieC]

I have a 1998 215EC where are you all mounting the on board battery charger? Any suggestions?
thanks

dan

I have a 215 Weekender. I am not to sure how similar your boat is to mine in regards to where I mounted the charger.

I purchased a Guest charger last year which is water resistant and charges 2 batteries. I installed it on the Port side in the engine bay. The same side the Batts are on. On the Weekender, the port and starboard side of the engine cowling have two panels (see link) http://media.channelblade.com/boat_...re/company13008/54002_p_t_640x480_image04.jpg

I removed the panel with the 4 screws and installed the charger on the bulkhead inside the engine compartment on the port side. I also purchased the Guest external water proof AC adapter plug so I wouldn't have a loose cord or have to remove the panel every time I wanted to charge the batts. I installed the plug on the panel because I didn't want to drill holes in the fiberglass. As it turns out, that is where the factory charger option was mounted. The only I don't like about the location is I can't see the indicator lights on the charger.

Again, I'm not sure if the 215EC is laid out the same as the 215WE.

Hope this helps.

 

[CliffA]

I have a 1998 215EC where are you all mounting the on board battery charger? Any suggestions?
thanks

dan

my boat has one battery on both the port and starboard side of the engine compartment....my dual bank battery charger is mounted in front of the starboard side battery.....

cliff

 

[diverjp]

Could you post a pic of this please. I'm poking to install an on board charger also

 

[CliffA]

Could you post a pic of this please. I'm poking to install an on board charger also

i won't be at the boat until the WE....i can get a pic then and post it next week......

cliff

 

[diverjp]

i won't be at the boat until the WE....i can get a pic then and post it next week......

cliff

Ok sounds good. Both of my batteries are on the port side, the boat is in the water from May until November usually. I would like the capability to plug in a charger to top off the batteries after short runs with long times at anchor. I look forward to the pics. Has anyone had luck identifying the original vinyl material used? Id like to take a crack at reupholstering the back rest and the original vinyl is very nice.

 

[CliffA]

Has anyone had luck identifying the original vinyl material used? Id like to take a crack at reupholstering the back rest and the original vinyl is very nice.

i had the 3 rear seats recovered a couple years ago.....the canvas shop had some vinyl that was an exact match in color to the other vinyl not being replaced......i can't say for sure if the new vinyl is as good of quality as what Sea Ray used but it looks good and holding up well so far.....i am thinking about having the rest of the cockpit vinyl replaced over the winter this year....

cliff

 

[diverjp]

i had the 3 rear seats recovered a couple years ago.....the canvas shop had some vinyl that was an exact match in color to the other vinyl not being replaced......i can't say for sure if the new vinyl is as good of quality as what Sea Ray used but it looks good and holding up well so far.....i am thinking about having the rest of the cockpit vinyl replaced over the winter this year....

cliff

I'm actually thinking about doing it myself. I bought a heavy duty sewing machine to replace the zippers on the Bimini top and windows and don't think the upholstery would be too bad to do. I got a price of $1800 to do the cockpit and that was too high. Sailrite has all the supplies etc I just want to make sure I get the correct vinyl

 

[CliffA]

Ok sounds good. Both of my batteries are on the port side, the boat is in the water from May until November usually. I would like the capability to plug in a charger to top off the batteries after short runs with long times at anchor. I look forward to the pics. Has anyone had luck identifying the original vinyl material used? Id like to take a crack at reupholstering the back rest and the original vinyl is very nice.

got rained out this WE so did not get a pic of the batteries and charger.....hopefully next WE will be better.....

cliff

 

[mbrown98]

Hi Cliff,
Arrived to find two dead batteries in my 01 215 Expess Cruiser last weekend. I'm also interested in seeing how the dual bank battery charger was installed in your boat. Did you run the leads to the battery terminals or to the posts on the battery select switch?

 

[CliffA]

Hi Cliff,
Arrived to find two dead batteries in my 01 215 Expess Cruiser last weekend. I'm also interested in seeing how the dual bank battery charger was installed in your boat. Did you run the leads to the battery terminals or to the posts on the battery select switch?

sorry....we took the boat out on Sunday but i completely forgot to get a pic of the batteries and charger.....will try to remember to do so this WE......i ran the wires from the charger directly to the batteries....this way the batteries will get charged regardless of what position the selector switch is in....the charger is a 'smart charger' in that it will split the charge between the two batteries depending on the state of depletion each battery is in...then it will maintain a full charge as long as needed without overcharging the batteries.....

to give you a verbal description of my set up, i have one battery on the port side of the engine bay and the other on the starboard side....each one is located approximately 1/2 way on the flat 'shelf' in the bay beside the engine....the Promariner dual bank charger is mounted on the same shelf just in front of the starboard battery....the wires that came with the charger are long enough to reach the port side battery.....i ran the wires from the port battery to the charger along the top of the front wall of the engine compartment......i connected the charger's power cord to my shore power connector on the side of my boat....that way i can plug in a drop cord with an adapter into the shore power connector and keep the batteries fully charged at all times.....see the pic below of this....

hope this gives you an idea my set up.....if not ask any questions you want....

cliff

View attachment 35882

 

[mbrown98]

Thanks, I have the same battery setup. For the low price of these chargers its almost crazy not to have one if the boat is parked or docked near a power source. What hardware have you used to secure the charger and the cables?
Also, all the pictures of your boat look great - what products do you use for cleaning - especially the interior?
Matt

 

[diverjp]

Cliff so you ran the charger AC line up to a junction box near the sink? What did you use to extend the AC line? I don't have a shore power connection so I'm thinking of mounting it on the stern near the transom shower maybe? The boat is at my dock where I have an outlet nearby to plug into, would've been nice to take a photo during the day huh?

 

[CliffA]

Thanks, I have the same battery setup. For the low price of these chargers its almost crazy not to have one if the boat is parked or docked near a power source. What hardware have you used to secure the charger and the cables?
Also, all the pictures of your boat look great - what products do you use for cleaning - especially the interior?
Matt

i used stainless steel screws to mount the charger on the shelf in the engine bay.....i used regular cable clips from Home Depot to secure the wires to the front wall of the engine bay....i used the ones with a short nail....be careful and don't use a clip that has a nail long enough to go through the wall and possibly punture the fuel tank on the other side....ask me how i learned that very expensive lesson.....

thanks for the compliment on the condition of my boat....i like Meguiar's marine products (and their auto products as well)....i use their 'One Step Compound' with a rotary buffer and wool pad to remove any oxidation from the hull.....then i use their 'One Step Cleaner Wax' to remove swirl marks and polish the hull.....to clean the marks off of the hull before waxing Acetone works great, especially for 'dock rash' from bumping against docks.....to clean the non-skid floor in the cockpit and on the swim platform i use oxalic acid....it can be purchased alone (i buy it 5 lbs at a time) or there are many products that have it as an ingredient.....one such product is 'Bar Keeper's Friend' which is a powder similar to Comet or Ajax....just wet the floor with water, sprinkle on some oxalic acid, lightly scrub the floor with a stiff bristle brush, let it sit for 10 - 15 mins, and rinse with water....the oxalic acid will bleach the gelcoat clean as new with very little scrubbing needed.....it also works great on stainless steel such as rails.....

nothing special used for the interior....i just use basic cleaners such as car wash soap, simple green, magic eraser, clorox clean-up, windex, mothers metal polish, etc......

cliff

 

[CliffA]

Cliff so you ran the charger AC line up to a junction box near the sink? What did you use to extend the AC line? I don't have a shore power connection so I'm thinking of mounting it on the stern near the transom shower maybe? The boat is at my dock where I have an outlet nearby to plug into, would've been nice to take a photo during the day huh?

the shore power set up was already on the boat when i bought it....i am not sure if it was a factory option or if a PO or a dealer installed it at some point....you are correct that it feeds an outlet that is in the cabinet in the cabin that holds the sink (see pic below)...this outlet is 'ground fault' protected.....i made a heavy duty drop cord to connect the shore power outlet and power cord from the charger.....once the charger power cord was plugged into the drop cord i heavily taped the connection with electrical tape to prevent the power cord from coming unplugged from the extension cord and possiby causing a spark....

if i would have installed the shore power connector i probably would have installed it on the transom also.....i am not crazy about it being mounted on the side, but it is not a big deal....

View attachment 35897

 

[Nehalennia]

Cliff
Is there a circuit breaker or panel? Or, is it just wired directly from the shore power?

 

[CliffA]

Cliff
Is there a circuit breaker or panel? Or, is it just wired directly from the shore power?

no circuit breaker except for the internal GFI circuit in the outlet......it is direct wired from shore power junction box to the outlet......i have thought that there should be a breaker in the circuit somewhere, but maybe that is accomplished with the internal GFI circuit.....

cliff

 

[Nehalennia]

I think that is suffice for that size of boat. I had thought about installing shorepower on my 230OV and just never got around to it.