Article by Pat Schrawder
MUSIC FOR LISTENING AND BOATING
I spend most of my time providing articles about safety and navigation but there is one item that definitely adds to a day of fun on your boat and that is your stereo equipment. Putting totally aside the belief by some fishermen that music played on the boat creates a vibration that attracts fish, there is just the pleasant environment it creates to help pass the time when you are traveling to and from a destination or you are drifting and waiting for a bite.
However, all music systems are not created equally. Many of the lowest cost units are simply car or home units that are not designed to stand up to the variations of temperature, moisture and voltage that one finds in the harsh marine environment. This is an area where the phrase “You get what you pay for” could not be more correct.
Fortunately, there are a number of stereo systems that have been manufactured specifically for marine use. One of the ones I like the best is manufactured by the Poly-Planar Group. When it comes to a full line of stereos, speakers and accessories designed for the marine environment and sold at very reasonable prices, Poly-Planar is hard to beat. The mainstay of their line is the MRD60 AM/FM/CD watertight stereo that has a powerful 180 watts of total power. In addition to being truly designed for the marine market, it offers many accessories. To name a few:
•Zone amplifier to allow you to remotely control up to 4 speakers.
•CD changer that will hold up to 6 CD’s.
•Wireless infrared remote to control your system from any area of the boat and wired volume control/remote intercom.
They offer a wide range of speakers that all have corrosion proof grills, polypropylene cones, mylar tweeters and plastic frames. They even offer infrared remote control speakers that let you control the volume, the source, the station and the power by pointing a handheld remote control at the speaker. In total, there are 21 different choices of speakers in all sizes and configurations and all guaranteed to be waterproof. They also offer a series of speaker back covers for speakers that are flush mounted in the bulkhead to protect them from being punctured or otherwise damaged.
Another unique feature of one line of speakers is their low magnetic field. Often overlooked when installing a VHF or stereo is the fact that any speaker placed near a compass will draw off the compass. This includes the speaker that is in the main unit or the microphone of a VHF radio and the speaker for a stereo system. Poly-Planar’s low magnetic field speakers greatly reduce or eliminate that problem.
A newer addition to their line of stereo systems is the MRD-70 that has all the features of the MRD60 with the addition of an MP3 player and multi-zone component feature. The basic system consists of the receiver and the separate display. It offers independent control in up to 4 zones with a display and amplifier in each zone. It includes an intercom feature that allows communication between stations. It also contains two auxiliary inputs on the receiver to accommodate direct input from other sources like an iPod or other device with audio output.
Poly-Planar is not the only company to offer marine stereos but you need to be very careful to read all of the fine print. There is a big difference between water-resistant and waterproof. So read the warranty that comes with the equipment and make certain you see the term “waterproof”.
Of course we are talking about music and not a critical item of equipment for your safety but, if you’re going to have music on your boat, it might as well sound good and the Poly-Planar systems do just that.
Pat and her husband, Larry are owners of L&L Marine Electronics in West Ocean City, MD.