What kind of special protection does your marine audio gear need?

[Electronics Guru]

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A: The marine environment can be harsh. When you combine direct exposure to the sun, saltwater, wind, and extreme temperatures, you come to understand why your electronic gear needs protection. A regular car receiver, for instance, can't handle moisture or constant UV-rays, the two biggest challenges for marine electronics.

Receivers — You'll want to buy a radio with a coated circuit board, a water-resistant faceplate, line-level outputs for sending signals to an external amplifier, and satellite radio controls. A weatherproof faceplate cover and a watertight remote control are also great accessories.

Speakers — Look for plastic cones (such as polypropylene) and rubber surrounds for maximum weather protection, corrosion-resistant mounting hardware, and enough power-handling to pump out tunes over wind, water, and engine noise. Be sure to examine the area where you'll be mounting your speakers — if it's near your compass, the speakers should be magnetically shielded.

Amplifiers — You'll want coated circuit boards, plated, non-corrosive connectors, and plenty of power.

Subwoofers — Look for plastic cones and rubber surrounds for maximum weather protection. Free-air rated component subs or enclosed subwoofers are good for the challenging mounting locations you'll often encounter in a boat. If you do not plan on adding an external amplifier, look for a powered enclosed subwoofer.