Building a System (Need help)!

[Havasu Hangin']

What should I use to build the sub enclosure (marine plywood, etc.) and what thickness should it be?
If you plan on keeping the boat, I'd use 3/4" marine grade plywood and resin/glass where needed.
When running the wire from the battery to the distribution block, what gage wire should it be? Considering that this will be powering amps for 6 6.5" speakers and 1 12" sub.
It depends on how current the amps draw. Different amps will have different current draw needs. Here's a chart that is a good ballpark:
http://pix.crutchfield.com/kb/Chart.jpg
When you settle on the amps (size, class), then you can estimate the draw and wire needs.
How close to the battery does the fuse need to be?
As close as possible. If you are going to run two batteries, put it right next to the Perko switch.
Good luck.

[ROZ]

4. I have seen a lot of billet speaker covers on this site. Some look like they would interfere with sound. Any comments on this.
HH must be slipping in his old age... He forgot one :jawdrop:
I think most will agree that many of the grills the billet enterprises have posted will restrict sound, but I have noticed a few that would work really well. I know it's been said before, but wait until you see some of the models Magic34 has comming out here in the near future. The models I've seen will present good sound as well as very good looks...

[riverbound]

Getting on this thread a little late but I would have to disagree with these guys on the 6.5 versus 6x9 in a boat application.
I have built many boats and the 6x9s always perform better in a boat than a 6.5. The 6x9 will give you more volume and output than a 6.5. One thing you ave to remember when building a system in a boat is you are trying to fill an open area with sound so the larger the speaker the better. I know that we were all taught that 6.5s sound better than 6x9s, and that is true in an automobile application. My recommendation would deffinitely be to use the 6x9s wherever there is room. I have built two identical boats one used 6.5s one used 6x9s, other than that everything was exactly the same (amps,woofers,subs, headunit,speaker placement) you can guess which boat was louder and sounded better. If you were building a car I would definitely advise against using 6x9s but a boat is different.
The majority of the boats that leave our shop has the following equipment.
Alpine or pioneer head unit
Rockford p4004 and 6001bd amplifiers
3pairs of eclipse se8493 (6x9 4way)
2 rockford or JL 12" woofers (p2 orw0)
This is a very simple system but works very well and cant be beat for the money it costs. There are quite a few board members that have this very same system in their boats right now

[Havasu Hangin']

I hate to disagree, but...
One thing you ave to remember when building a system in a boat is you are trying to fill an open area with sound so the larger the speaker the better. I know that we were all taught that 6.5s sound better than 6x9s, and that is true in an automobile application.
3pairs of eclipse se8493 (6x9 4way)
If SQ isn't an issue, then why 4-ways? I would put my MB Quart 6.5" 2-ways against any 6x9s (everything from Pioneer to Sony to Eclipse to Infinity). No comparison in volume or clarity.
Rockford p4004 and 6001bd amplifiers
It's been my experience that the only people recommending Rockford Hotplate amps are:
1. Those dealers that are making money off them.
and/or..
2. Those boaters who don't know any better.
For example, with lower ohm loads, my RF ran hotter than my JBL's. However, the JBL's were almost half the price per watt.
2 rockford or JL 12" woofers (p2 orw0)
w0's? For a few bucks more, I'd go with the W3's. Those w0's are pretty anemic. After all, like you said, boats need to be loud.
If the "larger is better" formula really held true, then how is it that the big boys can hit 165+ db with a single 10" woofer? I would think it's quality over quantity equipment these days...
Once again, sorry to disagree.

[77charger]

w0's? For a few bucks more, I'd go with the W3's. Those w0's are pretty anemic. After all, like you said, boats need to be loud.
If the "larger is better" formula really held true, then how is it that the big boys can hit 165+ db with a single 10" woofer? I would think it's quality over quantity equipment these days...
Once again, sorry to disagree.
Oh mr professor optima you know the answer you really want to recomend squares aint that how they hit 165db with a single 10 :boxed: :boxed: :argue:

[riverbound]

If SQ isn't an issue, then why 4-ways? I would put my MB Quart 6.5" 2-ways against any 6x9s (everything from Pioneer to Sony to Eclipse to Infinity). No comparison in volume or clarity.
Volume. Of course a $349 pair of speakers will sound better than a $179 pair of speakers. Lets compare apples to apples here. You can not tell me that if you take a specific pair of speakers and put the 6.5 from that series and put it in a boat then take the same speaker in a 6x9 and put it in the same boat, that the 6.5 will sound better. Once you have tried this then you will see my point. I have done this.
It's been my experience that the only people recommending Rockford Hotplate amps are:1. Those dealers that are making money off them.
and/or..
2. Those boaters who don't know any better.
For example, with lower ohm loads, my RF ran hotter than my JBL's. However, the JBL's were almost half the price per watt.
You've got to be kidding right? If I were going to sell an inferior product just to make money then I would sell you the Eclipse premiums (60 point margin) or the JL amps (55 point margin) instead of the Rockford amps (40 point margin) The reason we sell these amps are because for the money you can not beat the sound quality and power out put these amps provide. Also I have had no issues with the new amps overheating. One of the main reasons that the RF amps get so hot to the touch is because the heatsink is doing its job of getting the heat off the circuit board and into the heatsink.
Boaters who dont know better? Again you've got to be kidding me. How many people come to you a month and pay you to build their boat system for them? I have built every imaginable setup in a boat and this combo works great for the majority of boaters out there. I'm not saying that with this setup you will be the loudest boat on the water but it will do for most people who dont want to go into exotic batt. setups, generators, or very short play times.
w0's? For a few bucks more, I'd go with the W3's. Those w0's are pretty anemic. After all, like you said, boats need to be loud.
Efficiency is a big concern when building most boats. most people are only running 2 maybe 3 batts in these boats and they still want to be able to play all day and have some juice to start the boat at the end of the day. More current draw = less run time. I have many boats that run this sytem up to 8 hours on a single Optima and then switch over to the other battery and head home for the day. We are trying to get asw much sound as possible as efficiently as possible for as little money as possible. You have to remeber to compare Apples to Apples.
I would like to keep the cost of the speakers, sub, and amps below $1500. I will build the enclosure and do the installation. These boats are 100% wood free, so the only wood that I would like to add is the sub enclosure.
You have to remeber that we are not working with an unlimited budget and he also only has a single battery but would probably be willing to add a 2nd.

[ROZ]

Oh mr professor optima you know the answer you really want to recomend squares aint that how they hit 165db with a single 10 :boxed: :boxed: :argue:
I witness to a single 8L7 that hit 151db... Just throwin up a little ammo for ya RObert

[Havasu Hangin']

Riverbound, my friend...you are in a tough spot. Having to defend your sales decisions is tough, since you are bound by the brands you sell. To that end, a couple quick points:
1. I did not pay $349 for my Quarts. However, I'm also smart enough to know not to walk into any retailer and trust them with my boat, either.
2. You were the one making a blanket statement about 6x9's over 6.5's (several times). Are you kidding me?
3. My RF stuff had big problems with heat. I spent more time and money trying to cool them than other equipment. If the heatsink is really "doing it's job", then they wouldn't go into thermal shutdown, right? They did. However, I don't sell them, so please consider the source.
4. w0 efficiency? Are you kidding me?
http://www.jlaudio.com/subwoofers/images/RP_Chart.jpg
Looking at the chart, it would appear there is only 100 or so watts that separate the two (the current draw for a class D 200 watt difference at clipping is only 17 amps- probably 5 amps nominal). I'm sure you told your customers about that, let them listen to both, and then let them decide.
Yes, people take their boats to you monthly. However, people also take their boats to Best Buy. Since Best Buy gets paid (like you), does that mean they are boat experts, too?
Is there somebody from Best Buy or Circuit City who can add thier opinion?

[ROZ]

The speakers sound different. Chalk it up to personal opinion and move along. IF the guy is adding good gear and can sound good without butchering up his boat, why not simply suggest a good speaker that fits in his factory location. He has 6 not 4 locations. He's already ahead of the game there...Add the sub for the botom end and he's good to go at that level.
As far as Eclipse amps, they only belong in cars. While they do sound good , they have no balls. Fostage redesigned their amps because they had to.They still need to divise a way for the heatsink to dissipate heat a little faster, but that's MY opinion. Not saying the new stuff is an inferrior product though... P.S. I still have the classic stuff in my pickup... A 20x2 watt amp never sounded so good...Remember the old stuff is unregulated..
There are many good manufactures that put out great products. Some of which outperform the gear mentioned here. NOTE TO EVERYONE: SHOP AROUND AND BUY WHAT YOU LIKE. EVERYONE'S pocketbook and interpetation of sound at their preferred volume is different. So if you like what I can get, are a DIY'r, and want to save a lot of money, call me I ship nation wide from 8 dc' Sorry guys, had to do the shameless spam . I've heard a lot of quality gear at great prices that nobody ever really posts about... PartyCat how'r ya liking your Cadence amp? Keith, how about them XXX's .... Anyone running a Bramha, Alpine(subs or amps), Diamond Audio, or Digital Designs? How about Zapco? MBrown2, Those Pierce speakers sound great! I know Whiped really likes his PG's...
I like round speakers and will use other methods of filling in various frequencies and more volume cleaner (my personal definition of cleaner)before I (personally) use a 6x9... For the record, there are a few pair of x9's I like and highly reccomend for those who's need will benefit from using them... Just not for me...
Next you'll be debating regulated vs unregulated power supplies or what type of battery system to run :supp: :hammer2:
Isn't a clean watt a clean watt ....

[PHX ATC]

Isn't a clean watt a clean watt ....
Only if it showers.