1511 Feb 11, 2002
Since I am rewiring, I was considering the location of various entertainment items. I don�t watch a lot of TV but occasionally I like to rent movies. A friend of mine sells large powerboats and told me about the new flat LCD monitors that can take VGA, RCA, and regular antenna inputs. I consider this in the long run. Another issue would be audio entertainment. I would like some input on type and location. I want to consider this carefully because I don�t want to wind up making a lot of unnecessary holes in my woodwork.

James, Niko 91

1519 Feb 11, 2002
James- I mounted a cd player in a cabinet across from the head door above the port settee. Since I usually leave in on for a while while I�m in the starboard rack I�ve found it inconvenient as I have to get up from a warm bunk to turn it off. I�d suggest either a remote unit or mounting it where you can conveniently operate it.

Bill S

1529 Feb 11, 2002
My Seawind came with a cassete radio mounted over the shelf above the starboard setee near the navigation station. Two speakers were mounted on the shelves above the setees. I replaced this with a Sony boombox. I am not happy with that. I thought it made sense because it can be brought directly into the cockpit and can be powered from a cigarette lighter outlet.

Now I will replace the Sony with a cd car radio mounted where the original radio was mounted or behinid the sliding door of the shelf above the navigation station. I hope to install permanently mounted speakers in the cabin and have a set that I can move into the cockpit. Down on Canal Street in NY I can get a cd car radio for $80 and a set of speakers in cabinets for $40.

1531 Feb 11, 2002 10:19pm
Since the trip with my marine carpenter (and dear friend) Wayne and I made with Ted, aboard "Flicka" in Costa Rica, our entire focus of the navigation area, the entertainment area and the eating space has been re-adjusted.

Ted is a gadget guy! He had two laptop computers aboard. A bunch of navigation software that interphased with the GPS & radar and the laptop�s MP3 music library (endless) that was all fed into his favorite workspace, the main salon table.

Wayne has now "lived" aboard, within the SW II spaces, and he came home all "buzzed" about new ergo-dynamics and other undoubtedly expensive ideas.

Now that he has the "feel" of moving about, cooking, cleaning, eating and playing within the main salon in a SW II he has taken off once again into redesigning space with multiple tasks in mind.

The new multi-purpose, salon table is designed with more than just serving meals upon in mind. It has become a combination unit that stands from the floor to the overhead. A 19-inch wide by 4-inch high entertainment console projects aft about ten-inches aft from the main bulkhead , the console sides curve softly in towards the bulkhead and continue down to contain the 3-bottle bar, bookshelf, navigation tools (etc.) cabinet and hidden in the floor of the basic cabinet is a flip up AC outlet and data receptacle. One of the table leaves actually nests within the cabinet, the other is the facing cover when folded up. Just below is another built in cabinet (just about the height of the settee) that fits my laptop computer case (a lovely berth-side night-stand too), within a fitted drawer (ready for use on the folded down table). Just below is a fiddled locker for shoes(?) perhaps. To eliminate the table leg he has designed a flip up top to this lower locker, hinged at the aft end, this panel when flipped up become the table leg once fitted into a hidden receptacle.

Now, aside from what I expect will become a work of art (and a very expensive price tag) is the most efficient use of space for electronic interphase as well as the most logical use of previously unused space for the music center. The BOSE mini-speakers will be hidden somewhere within the rattan-faced locker sliders.

I suspect you may take a bit more conservative approach but the upper stereo console, above the folded up table may serve you quite well. Back in the early days of living aboard my boat I bought a boom box that used eight "D" cell batteries (an easy conversion to 12VDC) and I mounted the center section above the starboard berth on the main bulkhead on a simple shelf.

The 13" TV-VCR combo might fit nicely on your countertop just to the starboard of the companionway. That�s where my old one lived. To add some space you may consider a swing-away mount for the flat screen and the VCR.

Paul (going broke quickly) Sea Quill # 29K

1541 Feb 12, 2002
We keep ours all behind "closed doors" to prevent any damage during the rougher times at sea. Both the color TV and Stereo are behind closed doors, and when used can if need be removed and placed elsewhere for convenience.

Don Bundy