Recreational boating is on the rise, with 276,000 new powerboats sold in 2018. There’s nothing better than heading out on a sunny weekend to soak up some rays on the water.
One thing you need to complete the experience is a great stereo to pump your favorite tunes. The OEM stereo in your boat may not be entirely up to par.
You can replace your stock marine stereo with an aftermarket one. You need to make sure you buy the right stereo.
Keep reading to learn what to look for when buying a marine stereo system.
1. Water Resistance
If you use a standard stereo and speaker system in your boat, it’ll get ruined in the first splash. You need to look for a system that’s labeled as “marine”.
Manufacturers make their systems to different levels of water resistance. So a system that is “water-resistant” will hold up to splashes. Other systems are “waterproof” and can handle getting submerged.
Depending on where you install, your system will dictate what type of resistance you need. If it’s in the cabin, you should be fine with resistant. If it’s out on the deck, you may want to look for waterproof.
2. UV Resistance
If you chose the in-cabin installation, this might not be as important to you. But if you chose on deck, this quality is crucial. The sun’s harsh rays get magnified while out on the water.
Quality marine equipment has UV resistant qualities to prevent sun damage. Look for this quality in the faceplate and speaker cones.
3. Corrosion Resistance
Saltwater and oxygen can turn almost anything into a corroded mess in an instant. Your marine stereo system is no exception.
To prevent this, all of the internal parts should have a protective coating. It should be on the chassis components, plated connections, and circuit boards.
4. The Specs
If you know car stereos, it’ll come in handy here. The better the specs, the better the sound.
You want to look for a high CD signal to noise ratio. It should have a wide frequency response. You’ll want plenty of RMS power.
If you plan to listen to the radio, you’ll need the FM sensitivity spec to be very low. This will help you pick up radio stations while out on the water. If you want to connect devices, then USB ports are a must.
5. The Features
The system you choose needs to have the features that you want. These days, marine stereos have all of the same features as non-marine ones.
This includes Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio. You can look online to find out more about the different features of marine stereos. Such as, do you want one with an aux connection or thumb drive port?
Purchase Your New Marine Stereo
Whether you have a new or older boat, replacing the stereo system can give your boat a serious upgrade. But you need to buy the right equipment so that you don’t end up wasting your money.
Your marine stereo needs to be durable and have performance capabilities. This will ensure that your system lasts and gives you the sound you want.
Check out our other blog posts for more helpful buying guide articles like this one.
