You wouldn’t even think to drive around in a car that didn’t have a stereo system installed inside of it. So, why would you consider driving around in a boat that doesn’t have a stereo system set up?

If you’re looking to take your boat to the next level and enjoy it even more than you already do, choosing a boat stereo for it is a great way to accomplish both of these things. You’ll love blasting your music when you’re out on your boat having a good old time.

Before you run out and buy a stereo system for your boat, though, you need to do your homework. It’s important for you to learn how to go about choosing a marine stereo and how to find the right boat speakers for it.

Not sure where to start? Here are some tips on how to find the right marine stereo and speakers for your boat.

Begin by Creating a Budget for Your Marine Stereo and Speakers

One of the first things that you’re going to realize when you begin the process of choosing a boat stereo is that they’re available in a wide range of prices. You can spend anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars on a boat stereo and speakers if you want.

The key to learning how to pick a marine stereo and speakers is going to be setting a strict budget for yourself. Think about how much you’re willing to pay for them before you start shopping around for them.

Otherwise, you could very well end up digging yourself into debt when buying a marine stereo and speakers. You’ll be better off creating a budget that you can stick to while purchasing them.

Check Out the Marine Stereos and Speakers That Your Fellow Boaters Are Using

If you own a boat that you keep in a marina, you’re likely surrounded by lots of other boat owners, including many that have marine stereos and speakers on their boats. Take advantage of this by reaching out to them and asking them what they like (and don’t like!) about their stereo setups.

You might even want to see if it would be OK for you to climb aboard their boats to take their stereo systems for a test drive. You can see how much power they’re capable of producing and get a better feel for how each system works.

Determine How Powerful You Want Your Boat Stereo and Speakers to Be

When you’re installing a new stereo system and speakers in your car, you can get away with not picking out the most powerful system and speakers on the market. You’ll still be able to hear your system just fine in most cases.

But when you’re choosing a boat stereo and speakers, power is often going to be one of the most important factors. Your stereo system is going to have to pack plenty of power if you’re going to be able to hear it while you’re cruising around in your boat.

If possible, you should try to steer clear of purchasing dual cone speakers for your boat. Even though they’re often the most affordable options, they don’t produce the kind of high-quality sound you’re looking for. Coaxial speakers are usually the safer bet for those on the hunt for powerful boat stereo speakers.

Look for Speakers That Are Going to Be Durable Enough for Your Boat

The speakers that you stick on your boat might be capable of producing all kinds of high-quality sounds. But what good is that going to do you if they can’t compete with the salt air, the sun, and everything else that they’re going to be surrounded with?

Most boat speakers are going to be exposed to the elements early and often. If they’re not made out of extra durable materials, this is quickly going to turn into a problem.

When choosing boat speakers, you should always look for ones that are going to stand the test of time on your boat. You’ll be looking for new speakers for your boat in no time if they’re not cut out for the job.

Consider Working a Subwoofer Into the Mix to Make Your Boat Bounce

Do you want to make all of your fellow boaters jealous when you turn up your tunes on your new marine stereo and speakers? Then you should go above and beyond just installing a bunch of regular speakers on your boat.

You should also work a subwoofer into the mix. It’ll add some much-needed bass to the songs that you play on your boat and turn your boat into the center of attention when it’s out on the water.

A subwoofer will really come in handy for those who only have enough space to fit small speakers on their boat. It’ll add a little extra oomph to your stereo setup.

Make Sure Your Boat Is Equipped to Handle Your Marine Stereo and Speakers

It’s very tempting to stick a humongous stereo system and speakers onto a boat and turn it all the way up. But unfortunately, your boat might not be able to handle a system if it’s too big.

A marine stereo system is going to use quite a bit of power when you turn it on and turn it up. Make sure it’s not too big for your boat or it’s going to end up being useless since you won’t be able to use it to its full potential.

Choosing a Boat Stereo Can Be More Complicated Than You Might Think

“How hard could it possibly be?” That might be the question you find yourself asking when you’re in the market for a marine stereo and speakers and trying to pick them out.

As you’ll quickly discover, it’s a lot more difficult than you might think. Choosing a boat stereo and speakers will require you to consider everything that we’ve talked about today prior to making a final decision.

Want to read more about boats? Check out our blog for other informative articles.