www.iFourWinns.com

If the speaker/cooler clearance issue becomes a pain you could make a spacer ring out of a 1/2" white starboard, maybe even bevel it with a router to match the speaker cover contour. I'm thinking it'd blend right in.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Ok... finally home from a long day... I was on and off the boat projects throughout the day. We had some breaks in the weather, so it's always nice to enjoy some of the other toys that we all share as a family... also - spent some time just catching up with the parents.

Here's the checklist for today...

1) Install Promariner dual bank battery charger... done.
2) Install fire extinguisher... done

3) Finish the dang stereo install! ... DONE


I will be pulling fiberglass from appendages for the next couple of weeks, but oh my was it all worth it. The improvement in sound is just amazing -- it's exponentially better than stock. I need to dial in the amp a bit more, but it's already obvious that the amp and speakers are far superior than the head unit. I will set everything such that running the head unit at max volume is just a hair shy of getting any distortion in the speakers. The low volume sound is amazing -- and everything is just awesome.

The good news... no spacers for anything needed - it all fit. I did some mods to work through my cooler issue and it's no longer an issue in my book. Everything works!

On a scale of 1 to 5 where just swapping stock speakers out is a 1.5... this project was a high 3.5. You really need the right tools for the grinding of that fiberglass. Otherwise - running the wires and plugging it all in is the easy part.

Now the good stuff!

Here is the cubby with all the wiring pre-amp


Here is the cubby with the amp installed and the wiring kind-of cleaned up


Here is the sub rough cut opening


Here is the sub installed -- YES, IT FIT!


Front Speakers installed - these look SWEET up there. BIG sound for sure!


Back right (driver side) speaker installed -- I had been worried that I would lose my table mount - but it still works and everything fits. The grab handle is still very usable as well



Pictures I need to grab tomorrow -- The back left cooler side area. the pic will be plain, but you guys will see what challenges I had... Check back tomorrow.

I also installed a bass remote knob for the amp in the dash just to the right of the head unit. I got a stainless knob for it and it's just a simple, clean look. So clean that I forgot to take a picture of it.

I'm toast... it's been a long day!

Tomorrow... clean up and get my registration numbers installed...

This setup sounds awesome. You literally get 30% more sound out of the larger speaker and you get the JL sound quality that they are known for. The white speakers just make everything blend also...

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Awesome job. Thanks for the pics. I'm going to order mine this week. I'm torn about getting the component speakers or not. I had those in the stock but its doubtful I'll be able to use the same holes. Was using the rotozip the way to go?

_________________
Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

Ok... got some more pics from wrapping up my projects today.

The left rear speaker by the cooler... The JL is just a little too deep for the space. I was able to make some modifications to make it work though. The 240's have a molded plastic insert for the specific cooler that mounts to the fiberglass. The front side is not equal to the backside for spacing. I turned it so that the thick side is now in the front, pushing the cooler as far back in the opening as possible. It gave me just enough clearance that everything still works.




And lastly, the JL audio remote bass knob... I ordered a little stainless steel knob rather than the black plastic and mounted it in the dash. I like the simple look. This area of the dash is where I would put trim tab switches if I ever need them... and then I would have to re-locate that bass knob. no biggie though.




And lastly... finished product... buttoned up and ready for the lake! Where's the sun!
Launch day is tentatively planned for next weekend! Hopefully the sun is out!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Hey Cougar.....if you want sun this time of year you need to move south of the 33rd parallel! Here is a pic to wet your taste buds Install looks awesome!

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Matt-

2007 Four Winns H190
Earth First, We'll Mine the Other Planets Later

Good Job!
Nice pics!

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

That is, well the kit. LOVE IT! I don't want big cannons hanging from my tower or huge subs depth chargin the lake but I want some good sound over the wind and engine noise and that seems like the last step before going shore thumpin - just where I want to be with mine. So where can we get these goodies at a good price? Man, don't think you could have got that stuff in there cleaner or tighter.

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2008 Four Winns 210 5.7 GI/SX
2007 GMC Sierra 2500 Crew
1966 Fed-Up Wife

I ordered my stuff from another forum sponser/member over at http://www.thehulltruth.com -- they focus mostly on center console boats - but they have done a ton of these systems for people in their boats.

PM me for specific pricing that I paid... but I would start here:

http://www.swflnavigation.com/

These guys were great about answering questions. They won't know exact fit details of a Four Winns, but they know about the equipment. The guy I spoke with and ordered from was Matt. They are a smaller outfit but do some major projects - in fact, I think they are the oem electronics installer for some small builders down in Florida.

I highly recommend them. They are an authorized dealer - so there are no warranty issues as well. And I think they are close to JL's home office also.

What I ordered:

2 sets of the 7.7 coaxials
1 M6450 6 channel amp
1 10'' infinite baffle sub
1 JL audio remote bass knob with stainless steel knob

Pricing is very reasonable considering MSRP for the speakers alone is nearly 400/pair.

I priced out a Polk/Kicker combination and the difference to move up to a totally matched JL stereo was only a couple hundred bucks... and to get the 7.7's out of the deal is a major difference.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

So, what's the final verdict on the sound??

_________________
Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

Cougar, congrats on all your hard work. When your in a cove with friends and family with a cold one in your hand and the tunes playing you will no doubt have a moment where you get a sly grin on your face and be able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Great Job and thanks for sharing.

David

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2008 H210SS VP 5.7 Gi/SX
2011 Ford F150 FX4 EB

Great Job Cougarcruiser!.. and nice to see your boat out from wrapper. We are still under snow here…. I take no one else need stereo in our boat. All we have to do is anchor right next you and we are all set! .... Enjoy your first weekend!

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Cincy...

Verdict on the sound: Do it.

From 2 "listening sessions" inside the barn I did the work in... The sub actually doesn't add a whole lot of kick - the 7.7's actually produce musical tones down low enough to where the sub doesn't have to work very hard. We'll see what it sounds like on the lake - but I expect it to be just fine.

That being said, I will admit I put in a little classic bass-heavy rap just to see what she'd do... and you could definitely tell that the sub was there.

I think the key for me was using speakers large enough that could repoduce lower frequency sounds with some level of accuracy. Just because a speaker says it'll go down to 50hz, doesn't mean it does it well.

The tweeters are not overbearing - but it is crisp.

For me - it was exactly what I was looking for. I wasn't absolutely sure going from 6.5 to 7.7 was going to accomplish my goal - but it definitely has.

That being said, I am sure that if I was running something like 8 or 10 6.5's - that the goal would have been accomplished as well -- but the wife specifically said she wanted no speakers on the arch. (For now)

If you can swing it - I am 110% all for this mod... I'd tell everyone to do it. Even if you don't want a sub - and you just took 4 7.7 JLs with a decent 4 channel amp -- it's a world of difference from stock. Just the difference at low volumes is magnitudes better than the "non premium" stock setup.

I'm a music fan -- good tunes has always been a priority for me in my vehicles. Heck - I even upgraded the stereo in my Harley Street Glide from stock!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Are we related?


I installed a Sony marine deck, Kicker marine 6.5s and amp in my Polaris Ranger UTV.
My house has 10 speakers in the walls throughout & on both porches.

Gotta have sound!

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

Cougar- can you give some tips on enlarging the holes? I'm ordering my equipment this weekend. Obviously taping off and measuring but as far as tools go, is the rotozip the way to go? Any other thoughts, precautions etc?

_________________
Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

tape the heck out of everything to protect your finishes and when you get the hammer out, swing firm and swift.

I used a die grinder and a hefty burring bit at high speed... You could easily use a saw'zall or rotary tool

Oh, and triple check your measurements...

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA