Transom speakers in her big old back end?

[capn272]

So we're getting a bit of a late start for the season, but we've put in to get a platform from swimplatforms.com started for our 272 after last season's little trimming issue.. (should have done it months ago...) [Also, see photo for the end result.. my boat and ordered platform should be identicalish]

I've been trying to figure out what to do about audio from the back-end. We've got a tower, but the bimini is setup in such a way where there's not a lot of clearance under the tower to allow for tower speakers. I don't want to put any up on top of it because we've got a low bridge on Beaver Lake and she's tall enough as it is.. so that has lead me to transom speakers... after going to great lengths to avoid considering it..

Now, I haven't been to the boat in a few months to go knocking on her big old bubble butt with a mallet to test my hypothesis, but I assume the back end is more or less a shell, with the actual transom buried within? If that's the case, I should be able to cut into the inset/recessed area to install a couple speakers, and fishing the wires up and over should be another hole?

I think I can easily fit a few 4"ish speakers back there. I feel like 6" would be too much given that the recessed area has an angle change toward the bottom, and the swim platform will take up a bit of the lower edge..

I know SOMEWHERE I've seen a 272 with a similar setup but despite a significant amount of googling, I haven't been able to find it.

I wanted to get the community's take on such an approach and any tips?

Photos related. You guys loce these things..

[ScottyT]

I have the same boat and looking at doing the same thing. My boats on the lift in the Ozarks, I won’t have access for a couple of weeks. I like your tower, which one is it?

[AsLan7]

I have the same boat and looking at doing the same thing. My boats on the lift in the Ozarks, I won’t have access for a couple of weeks. I like your tower, which one is it?

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Hey ScottyT...welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us! Thanks for coming out of the woodwork.

Samson towers are a Cobalt staple. Be sure to check them out.

How is your Cobalt powered? Any pics?

Again welcome aboard mate!

.

[capn272]

Mine is the Samson Edge tower.

I stole the first photo from the Samson Sports website as I'm 99.4% sure it's my boat. The tower is pretty tall, I wouldn't want to put a bimini above it to allow for tower speakers on the underside.

Please feel free to join my 272 thread here: viewtopic.php?f=47&t=5008

[ScottyT]

1996 272 with the 7.4L Volvo, third owner. Getting ready to add a swim platform, upgrade the sound system, new gauges. Actually looking at the Fusion RV-FS402 flush mount speaker for the transom.

[capn272]

That's an interesting approach. Would you be mounting it on the inset/nook area or above it? The measurements don't look like it'd be a good fit in either place?

I'm going to have to do my upgrades over time.. planning on a Fusion MS-RA210 to start, and build out from there. I want to get the swim platform installed first as I don't know what kind of clearance I'll have in that nook back there. I had big dreams of setting up a three zone system (bow, cockpit, aft-facing) but I think that's going to be overkill. I haven't played with them, but I'm hopeful that the headphone jacks still work up front. I don't have any speakers up there anyway. Neither my 5yo or 3yo have expressed any interest in listening to music while wakeboarding..

I'm halfway inclined to just throw a WetSounds sound bar under there and call it a day!

[Big Block Power]

Someone else was going to try that sounds bad option and I guess it sounded like crap just saying.

[capn272]

I got to spend some time with the boat today to take her to the shop.. The sloped recessed area is easily accessible in the engine compartment... but now having seen it, I hate to go and cut big holes in it for speakers if it's going to weaken that area substantially...

[capn272]

I have the same boat and looking at doing the same thing. My boats on the lift in the Ozarks, I won’t have access for a couple of weeks. I like your tower, which one is it?

ScottyT, any chance you're still around/receiving notifications? I'd be interested to see what you've done with your boat as it's been a few years. My finance committee has finally approved stereo expansion/refurbishment and I'm looking for ideas.