Rick's H180 mods

EvilZ · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:25 pm

Right on - Let's see some pics!

ric · **Posted:** Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:13 pm

I tried but it just doesn't come out decent with camera phone. I'll attempt with the dslr

Bobaloo · **Posted:** Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:45 am

ric wrote:

Had my first chance to use the LED nav/anchor lights tonight. Wow. Stupid bright and makes the boat look MUCH better. It's like checking out a modern car with LED and HID lighting compared to an old car. Much more modern and it gives it a "high tech" look. I highly recommend them to everyone.

Can you please post some pics and let us know where you got them?

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:56 am

I'll try to get some pictures tonight.

The white is sold out, so here's a link to the black. Had to re-drill holes as was a bit different from what came on the boat.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Attwood-1-NM- ... l/14150768

Rear 360 light 42" LED. It's the second sun.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Attwood-LED-A ... 2/14150778

New base for new light, again.. holes different. I went with black cause the pole base is black and plugged in 24x7 so it matches better (I fly flags)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001O0 ... MN7D4BGGKD

I didn't get the LED wedge bulbs for the gauges yet, maybe today? The new radio and steering wheel get delivered tomorrow and holy crap, I just realized that I can now purchase and install remotes! I know that one will be going in the back on the swim platform...that's a given, but I also need one in the front accessible when beached. That will take some planning. I nearly kill my arm trying to reach over the windshield when adjusting the radio, I never want to do that again. I'm thinking somewhere in the front bow area.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:07 pm

New wheel installed. Took literally 5 minutes using nothing but a crescent wrench, allen key, and 3 whaps with the crescent wrench on the shaft while holding the old wheel. The 2000 Four Winns shaft is plated and they used a nylon lock nut. No corrosion. BIGG improvement in helm styling!
Old:

New (bad pic angle):

I'm going to look into getting a logo. I know the 2005 Horizon boats the center is a domed sticker.

Got the radio in the mail also. I might start working on that after work tomorrow. I really do not want to use a splash shield since I can just take off the faceplate when docked. The current one is also broken.

Ordering stainless cup holders too.

Walt · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:41 pm

ric wrote:

The new radio and steering wheel get delivered tomorrow and holy crap, I just realized that I can now purchase and install remotes! I know that one will be going in the back on the swim platform...that's a given, but I also need one in the front accessible when beached. That will take some planning. I nearly kill my arm trying to reach over the windshield when adjusting the radio, I never want to do that again. I'm thinking somewhere in the front bow area.

I installed one in the bow for the same reason... check Walt's Mod's. Some systems support two remotes, others don't.

Like the new Wheel!

I might suggest swinging by raceline digital if you are interested in getting the truly WOW factor for the graphics. Maybe next year or two for me.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Good luck with that Kenwood. Hope you have better luck than I did with the three I put in my prior boat. Seems the only thing marine bout them was the name. You better rethink that cover issue and buy it a Trojan too if they didn't change. Mine would not turn off or shut down the CD. It was like riding with Christine and the same songs over and over. Walmart would exchange them for me with the receipt though. I did like the colors though. I could change colors on the display just not the songs on the CD.

I have a CD on my Sony marine but never have used it. I like the iPod connect. Its really gotten to where radios are outdated. My boy has a zune the gets radio and stores so much more than an iPod its crazy. All we really need is a speaker jack and forget the stereo.

chrisvs · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:51 am

Love the new wheel Rick!

I have this one sitting at home, and I think it is going to find a home in the boat this spring...

It has been sitting in my house for about 12 years now, it has been in a few of my toys over the years. Not a marine wheel, but hopefully if I keep it covered when The boat is not in use, it will not take too much of a beating. Better than having it sit in the closet!

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:41 am

There's all sorts of adapters sold just in case it doesn't directly bolt on for steering wheels. I really like that one!

As far as the radio goes, it doesn't mention any IPX ratings but the board is coated I did see that (and it does mention it). I specifically purchased it from Crutchfield because they have a 60 day no questions asked return policy on top of the 1 year warranty. None of the Sony's are IPX rated either. They both have the same conformal coated circuit boards at least in the under $150 price range. I got two months, we'll see. If it acts up, I'll swap it for a Sony DSX-MS60.

I also just remembered an acquaintance in south florida has a waterjet machine at his car shop. I just hit him up to see if he can blow me out a radio adapter for the helm to give me the correct hole size of 2"x7" with a bezel around where I can bolt it to the fiberglass since the factory hole is bigger to accept those cheesy splash shields. What he can do in 5 minutes will come out much nicer then what would take me 1hr with a dremel tool.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:53 am

ric wrote:

Sony doesn't have front usb on their marine radios! AHH! WTF? You gotta pay $200 to have front usb WITHOUT a CD player! That's why I want the kenwood. Has both for $120 shipped

You can get the front USB port in "car" decks. The sony marine remotes will work with them. The decks are cheap enough, so if it last 3 or 4 years, who cares. I think I paid about $145 for it. I have been using one for the past 2 years with no problems. LOVE that USB port and the thumb drive. I am more upset that they don't have more decks/heads with HD radio!!

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:02 am

Paul I. wrote:

ric wrote:

Sony doesn't have front usb on their marine radios! AHH! WTF? You gotta pay $200 to have front usb WITHOUT a CD player! That's why I want the kenwood. Has both for $120 shipped

You can get the front USB port in "car" decks. The sony marine remotes will work with them. The decks are cheap enough, so if it last 3 or 4 years, how cares. I think I paid about $145 for it. I have been using one for the past 2 years with no problems. LOVE that USB port and the thumb drive. I am more upset that they don't have more decks/heads with HD radio!!

I have the sony CDX-GT700HD in my car that I installed last fall, it's an amazing radio. Front USB, HD radio, everything. It's only flaw is that you can't preset HD stations. Annoying, that's why my boat didn't get it. My favorite radio station (90s/2000s rock) is HD2 of oldies station. Every time I turn my car on I'm rockin to the big bopper for a few seconds until it locks in and then u gotta hit the button. I do like the look of the Kenwood better and it's remotes are smaller/nicer. Let's cross our fingers.

As far as USB thumb drives go? This is the only way to fly. You don't even know it's there.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 0KV0662271

Paul I. · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:25 am

Yes, that is SMALL, but Newegg is not say how big it is. I need at least 8 gig. I have been using my wifes I-pod to get over the 512 folder limit. But I hate the Ipod because of its copyright restrictions and you need to use I-tunes!!! There are work arounds to I-tunes, but it should not be this hard like other MP3 players.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:55 am

Paul I. wrote:

Yes, that is SMALL, but Newegg is not say how big it is. I need at least 8 gig. I have been using my wifes I-pod to get over the 512 folder limit. But I hate the Ipod because of its copyright restrictions and you need to use I-tunes!!! There are work arounds to I-tunes, but it should not be this hard like other MP3 players.

I used to be a big I fan, but I moved away I got tired of the restrictions. That one I posted is 4gigs that will mainly be for the boat. I use a SanDisk Sansa mp3 player in my car that plays everything without restrictions AND the best part is... it's USB plug is "standard" so the radio reads it off the USB port and you change songs/folders with the radio, shows music info, etc just like the ipod/iphone when plugged in. It's a Sansa Clip 4 gig and it was like $40 bucks and it also has a microSD slot. Throw in a 32gb card and for under $100 you have something pretty substantial that you can use anywhere(car/boat/home/gym/etc) and also doubles as a thumb drive for file storage.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:20 am

Another boring day at work.... found my next upgrade after the radio is sorted.

http://www.amazon.com/Seasense-Stainles ... 392&sr=8-1

Stainless steel LED cup holders!

Paul I. · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:42 pm

ric wrote:

Paul I. wrote:

Yes, that is SMALL, but Newegg is not say how big it is. I need at least 8 gig. I have been using my wifes I-pod to get over the 512 folder limit. But I hate the Ipod because of its copyright restrictions and you need to use I-tunes!!! There are work arounds to I-tunes, but it should not be this hard like other MP3 players.

I used to be a big I fan, but I moved away I got tired of the restrictions. That one I posted is 4gigs that will mainly be for the boat. I use a SanDisk Sansa mp3 player in my car that plays everything without restrictions AND the best part is... it's USB plug is "standard" so the radio reads it off the USB port and you change songs/folders with the radio, shows music info, etc just like the ipod/iphone when plugged in. It's a Sansa Clip 4 gig and it was like $40 bucks and it also has a microSD slot. Throw in a 32gb card and for under $100 you have something pretty substantial that you can use anywhere(car/boat/home/gym/etc) and also doubles as a thumb drive for file storage.

Once I have the I-pod running its fine. I can control it with the Sony wired remotes that I have on board. I have over 1500 songs on it and it plays just fine. With the thumb drive, I have to change folders.

www.iFourWinns.com

Rick's H180 mods

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