Updated July 11, 2019: Boat owners are reluctantly dry-docking their babies for the winters. How to winterize a boat doesn’t have to mean just dealing with the mechanical aspects. Take advantage of this less-active time to suggest upgrading the boat’s audio components for better summer entertainment on the water.
Marine weather is unforgiving. So is the relentless advance of technology. Today’s watertight, marine head units are not only extraordinarily rugged, they are designed for digital media and smartphone integration. And since satellite radio signals extend up to 200 miles offshore, many receivers are SiriusXM ready. Others may include a weather band along with the AM/FM tuner.
If the boat is large, be sure to pick a head unit that is multi-zoned. That way, whether passengers are in the cockpit, galley or on deck, they can adjust volume as needed. A remote placed at the helm allows the receiver to be mounted in a more protected spot, such as below deck. If the head unit must be placed in an exposed position, consider adding a marine cover.
Even the best receivers may not come with the power needed to boost sound over the wind, waves and engine roar. Plus, if a subwoofer or extra speakers are being added, you’ll need one or more amps to spread the audio signals throughout the boat. A subwoofer should have its own dedicated monoblock amp. Or, install a 5-channel amp to run the entire system.
A boat owner may not be looking for a whole lot of thump, but let’s face it—powerful bass helps give music a special punch on a boat. Even an OEM system will sound better when a subwoofer is paired with it, so encourage the addition of a woofer.
Speakers, like head units, have come a long way. With water-resistant polypropylene cones, rubber surrounds, plastic grilles and stainless steel mounting hardware, quality marine speakers will deliver excellent sound in harsh environments year after year. They are available at different price points and range from component speakers to coaxials to tower speakers—all designed to deliver the tunes to the end of a ski rope.
Winter is the time to capitalize on marine audio upgrades with products from Petra. Customers will love your quality, customized installations. Plus, they’ll advertise your skills and generate word-of-mouth customers for next winter.
While you’re ordering your marine audio products at petra.com, be sure to check out our wide range of boating accessories including fishfinders, handheld marine radios, and more!