While fishing is always going to be the primary function of the Black Watch, having a high quality sound system and even satellite TV would make the boat a bit more family friendly and make those fishless days a bit more bearable.
Bose quality always speaks for itself. I like to work with local companies when I can and although Bose is a global leader in audio products, it’s headquartered here in the Northeast, just outside of Boston. At Bose, they don’t enter a market without extensive testing, and in the marine environment that was no different. Bose environmental testing simulates exposure to sunlight, rain, heat, ice, salt and water, providing proof of the extreme conditions these outdoor speakers can endure and still deliver reliable, long-lasting performance.
Designed to flush mount in the pre-cut speaker openings provided by many boat manufacturers, each Bose 131 marine audio speaker features a Bose full-range driver for high-fidelity sound, and a proprietary ported enclosure for smooth, consistent low-frequency response.
The proprietary drivers deliver a more consistent sound field than many conventional boat speakers, while the innovative ported enclosures compensate for the unpredictable mounting environments that can diminish performance.
Luckily for me I had the pleasure of working with Paul Tagliamonte from Bose regarding the mounting of the speakers. Paul came down to the C&C Factory in Bristol to take a look at the project and offer advice that would make for the best audio performance. Being a boater and fisherman himself, “Tag” was able to offer some great advice regarding the placement of the speakers and the components that we would need to get the optimum performance from the flush-mounted Bose 131 speakers. We opted to put 3 pairs of speakers in the boat. The cabin got a pair, the helm area port and starboard received a pair in the original speaker holes, and the third set we put just aft of the engine boxes in the cockpit, which gave us ample balanced coverage throughout the entire boat.
Paul suggested we go with a quality head unit. I chose the Clarion CMD6 Reciever. This unit is built for the saltwater environment. It is engineered to withstand water and salt with stainless steel durability in the chassis, and rubber gaskets with integrated drainage channels keep water out. The unit is Sirius and XM ready and has IPOD and Bluetooth connectivity. Optional accessories are great too. We chose the MW1 waterproof remote control, which will allow us to control the audio in a second location. Tag also recommended that we go with an amplifier in the marine environment. Paul explained that unlike indoor stereo systems, an amplifier is essential in marine applications where engine noise and high ambient noise, from wind and water, competes with the sound system. Without an amplifier, cranking up the volume only means one thing: increased distortion. It’s a known fact in the audio world that an amplifier does more than increase a system’s volume level. It reduces distortion at high volume levels, resulting in music reproduction that’s crisp, clean and powerful. Clarion had the solution there as well with their APX490M marine amplifier with specially coated circuit boards that resist mold, mildew and moisture damage contained inside a corrosion-resistant aluminum housing.
Another local company here in the Northeast, KVH is headquartered in Middletown, Rhode Island. The guys at KVH love to fish, and when they heard about this project, they were excited to be a part of it. KVH’s ultra-compact 12.5-inch TracVision M1 antenna allows you to enjoy hundreds of channels of high-quality satellite TV programming from DirecTV while at the dock or while underway, and you can watch it on a TV screen or right through your fishfinder or GPS unit, provided it has a video input.
Weighing just 7.5 pounds, the in-motion TracVision M1 is the world’s smallest and lightest satellite TV system for boats. It offers the open-water tracking and in-motion performance you might expect from a larger antenna while fitting the sleek exterior design of vessels as small as 20 feet. Best of all, the TracVision M1’s small size and easy setup means you can install it wherever is most convenient for you. This all-digital satellite TV system connects you to the DirecTV programming you enjoy. When you choose KVH’s TracVision M1, you’ll get the best shows on H2O. (Remember OTW TV is on channel 630 on DirecTV). This technology only used to be available for big yachts, but now a pocket sportfishing boat like the Black Watch right down to a center console can enjoy TV while on the water.
[…] have been on a tear in recent years. We last read about their TracVision M1 system being a critical component in a boat’s entertainment system. And in September, their MiniVSAT Broadband service went global, licensed to operate offshore and […]