Finally finished up the installation of my arch TV setup. My goal here was to improve on the factory setup and certainly keep all the components as weatherproof as possible. I definitely didn't want to resort to using any home/residential exposed components. I also wanted all this and the ability to play the sound through the factory arch speakers and sub... a no-can-do with the factory setup. The factory uses a Vimar component weatherproof box to house the AV and DC connections. I ordered one but I ordered a two panel instead of the three panel that the factory uses to minimize the size. It's the IP-55 model. When I got it, it had a big box housing on the back of it, giving it a 2.5 inch depth. It stuck out WAY too far like that. So I called Vimar and asked them if they had any special setup that they supplied FW. They said no, that they likely modified it to make it low profile. I knew I had to ditch the box but I didn't want a big cutout since the speaker cutout is right next to where I wanted to mount it. This is where the 338 is a little more tricky then the 318 since the speaker on the 318 is up much higher. All the more reason I wanted to minimize the holes since I never saw the factory installed panel & mount. I ended up using a 1/4" thick piece of starboard to offset the panel clips that prevent the panel face from sitting flush. The factory uses a large circular disk to do away with the box and allow it to sit flat. I didn't want to do that since the thin aluminum would not have offset it enough to make just a small hole for just the wires. This would result in having to remove a lot more fiberglass to make it work. The only wires I need are 1 audio 1/8th" rca and the coax. The factory box brings in the 3 audio video cables plus power and cable. Thus I only needed the two panel box - the TV I went with has a built in DVD. I didn't want to have to go into the cabin to fast forward stuff and minimize the cables (ultimately the box size). Anyway, the 1/4" starboard was a pretty much perfect backspace. I ran power through a marinco 12V cig style through the knock out cap to also minimize drilling more holes. I used the Chief brand mount, as the factory uses. I made a small oval shaped hole behind the box that is about as wide as a dime in the middle. I was also skeptical about using the powdercoated aluminum panel FW used cause I see it flaking already on the same panels used on my bud's 298 arch. Here's a low quality preview. I didn't put the TV up this weekend since the weather was lousy but I'll get some better pics this weekend. Also, there was an available 12v unused power terminal right there. Finished the panel off with a bead of 3M marine silicone around the perimeter. Turned out to be a fair amount of work but I'm really pleased with the final clean look.
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