Want to install additional speakers in 2005 185 Sport

[2xsl_1998]

Hi all. I've got a 2005 185 Sport, and I want to install a couple of more 6.5" speakers in the front.

Where are the speakers installed if your boat came with 4 from the factory?

I was thinking that the best place is in the vertical section of the seating/stow area.

Any tips or problems with cutting the fiberglass there?

 

[Charlie L]

I have a 2006 185 sport which is a little different than yours, but I had speakers added to the bow of my boat by the dealer (they needed an access hole to get to the bow eye to fix gel coat cracks) almost a year ago. In the 06 model there is a flat spot on either side where you can add speakers wich allows them to mount flush. My advice would be find the flattest spot on either side of the bow. Use a hole saw to cut the holes, will probably need something in the 4 + inch range( the speakers will have the required size in the instructions). If you use a new (sharp) hole saw you should't have any problems with chiping the gel coat. I've heard some people say to bevel the edges after the cut, I'd probably hit it with some sand paper to take the rough edges off. Also, use the recomended size drill bit to drill pilot holes for the screws used to mount the speakers, too small and you'll chip the gel coat, too big and well you know that one.

Measure twice, cut once!

 

[2xsl_1998]

Thanks. I guess that I need to find a 5 1/16" hole saw (if possible).

I wonder if I could just use a 5" and carefully sand away the remaining 1/16" with a Dremel tool sanding wheel?

I was actually thinking of trying to use a Dremel with a spiral cutting blade to make the rough cut.

 

[Morpheus]

Thanks. I guess that I need to find a 5 1/16" hole saw (if possible).

I wonder if I could just use a 5" and carefully sand away the remaining 1/16" with a Dremel tool sanding wheel?

I was actually thinking of trying to use a Dremel with a spiral cutting blade to make the rough cut.

Having drilled/cut wholes in my boat with only a 1.5" holesaw blade I am willing to bet (if you can find one) cutting with a 5" or 5 1/16" holesaw would require a pretty powerful drill and not be alot of fun.

It would be easier to draw the hole and cut with a jig saw or if you have like one of the rotory saws.

Also there will be A LOT of fiberglass dust so do yourself a favor and have a shop vac going and a friend holding it near the cutting to cut down on where taht stuff goes it's a pain to clean that up.

I'm just giving you my opinion and ideas I've not actually cut a whole for a speaker (yet) I want to install a sub or two in my boat eventually.

 

[HavingFun]

I'm not sure if you could find a 5 inch hole saw. I would use a good jig saw blade and putting tape over the area to cut will help stop the chip outs.

 

[Merge360]

I second what Morpheus said..... That's a pretty big hole to cut with a hole saw.....

I added 2 speakers in the bow of my 195 Sport about 6 months ago..... And I used a RotoZip rotary saw.... First I taped off the area that I was going to be cutting with masking tape, drilled a pilot hole to get the RotoZip blade in and went to work!

Let me back up.... I actually made a template out of poster board the size of the hole I was needing to cut out... Then I cut the 5 1/16 hole out of the poster board and placed the speaker in the hole to make sure it would fit.... Then, I traced the circle I needed to cut onto the masking tape where I wanted the hole to be cut....

Charlie L also made a great comment... Measure twice, cut once....

Very easy to do and use a shop vac... Yiou will certainly have a mess to clean up afterwards!

Good luck!

 

[2xsl_1998]

Thanks y'all! :smt001

My speakers actually just came in today. There is a cardboard template inside of them for tracing the line.

I'm going to get a few of the grit type jigsaw blades and some new bits for my rotary cutter.

I really appreciate the comments and suggestions.

Looks like I have a little weekend project. :thumbsup:

 

[Morpheus]

Thanks y'all! :smt001

My speakers actually just came in today. There is a cardboard template inside of them for tracing the line.

I'm going to get a few of the grit type jigsaw blades and some new bits for my rotary cutter.

I really appreciate the comments and suggestions.

Looks like I have a little weekend project. :thumbsup:

Don't forget we like pictures! :smt038

 

[2xsl_1998]

Sorry so slow responding. The whole process really wasn't that bad. I did take a few pics during the process, so I'll try to get them on here.

First shot: the bow area before I started.



Next shot: after laying out the area and marking the holes, I covered a large area with 3 layers of masking tape.




I used a spiral cutting bit in a Dremel tool to start the cuts. It made a lot of dust, and the fiberglass and carpet on the backside of the cut gummed the blade up pretty bad. It was slow also, so I just grabbed my jigsaw and put in a brand new fine toothed blade. It cut really easy and didn't make much dust at all. You just need to make sure and mask off a big enough area that the saw doesn't scratch things up.

And the last shot of the final product:



This really wasn't that tough at all. The gel coat didn't crack any, but I was a little concerned about the pilot holes I drilled for the screws that hold the speakers in. It took a lot of force to get them started because I needed a bit just a little larger, and the next one up I had was a little too big.

I'd give this about a 6 out of 10 in difficulty.

 

[Charlie L]

Glad to see you got it done and everything went well.

Fyi, I've seen the larger size hole saws at lowes, and work fine with a 18 volt drill. As long as you have a sharp (new) hole saw they go through fiber glass like a knife through butter.

 

[wreckless123]

Would love to see the pics but they seem to be gone.