Marine Radios Review

Are you ready for the first couple of steps for installing your Marine Radio or CB Radio on your boat?

First: You will have to decide where you want to place your radio. Usually you will locate it in some central location to the boat’s console. Marine Radios are much more sophisticated than they used to be. I the past few years, many have included an MP3 plug-in to allow for your own recorded music to be played through your stereo system.

Drill holes to mount the splash cover if you chose to have one – allowing enough extra wire length to reach from your radio to the power bus (located in your boats console or dashboard). Make the holes just large enough to allow the bolts or cords to pass through. In the case of most pontoon boats console or the type found in a Boston Whaler, you will need to drill two more holes, one on each side of the bottom of the console to allow for the speaker wires.

Second: It’s time to tie your Marine Radio or CB Radio into the boat’s power supply. To do this, attach the power cord to the common power bus located in the console or under the dashboard. Your stereo will have its own fuse, but that fuse protects the stereo, not your boat’s electrical system. Most installers follow the generally well accepted practice of attaching an “in-line” fuse between the common bus and the power cord using common electrical wire nuts.

You are now ready to run your raceways – check my next blog for steps 3, 4, and 5…