Official 215 Express Thread

Dan-o said:
Hello,
I am a new owner of a 1998 Sea Ray 215. My first project is to add shore power. I saw a website that has a DIY set up, anyone ever install this in their 215? If so where did you install the panel?



https://www.ezacdc.com/boat-wiring-products/marine-electrical-shore-power/

thanks
dan
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Dan,
I received your email and i have sent you the list of mods i have done. The shore power was already installed on my boat when i got it but it looks like it would be pretty simple to install. here are a couple pics. one shows the connector box on the hull and the other shows the outlet in the cabin. i also have my on-board battery charger connected to the shore power to keep my batteries charged while the boat is on the trailer.

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thanks for all of the information cliff
dan
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Does anyone know the size of the hatch? I would like to get a screen for it as it looks like there are provisions for one. Unfortunately mine is in deep freeze here in MN otherwise I would go out a measure it.

Thanks
 
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from my parts manual (1998 model)......

0783522 Hatch Deck 20 x 20 Ultra II locking WHTPC
0783530 Screen Deck Hatch 20 x 20 Framed


cliff
 
OllieC said:
Thanks Cliff. I'll check it out.....
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if you cannot find a new OEM screen it probably woud not be too hard to fabricate one out of aluminum insect screen and some thin aluminum strips....both of these can be found at your local Home Depot and/or Lowes and/or Menards......you could use JB Weld to join the aluminum strips to make the frame and secure the aluminum screen to the frame....just be sure the aluminum strip you use for the frame is thin enough to fit under the clips that secure the screen in place when installed in the hatch.....this might not make the 'prettiest' hatch screen but it should work just fine.....

cliff
 
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CliffA said:
if you cannot find a new OEM screen it probably woud not be too hard to fabricate one out of aluminum insect screen and some thin aluminum strips....both of these can be found at your local Home Depot and/or Lowes and/or Menards......you could use JB Weld to join the aluminum strips to make the frame and secure the aluminum screen to the frame....just be sure the aluminum strip you use for the frame is thin enough to fit under the clips that secure the screen in place when installed in the hatch.....this might not make the 'prettiest' hatch screen but it should work just fine.....

cliff
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Ahhh Ha!!! I never thought of that. You can buy a screen frame kit at Home Depot for $15 and all would be good. I saw a Ultra II Screen for $52 on ebay.

BTW - I like your modifications. I really wish I could have a table like you built, but I don't have the grab rail behind my seat like you do.
 
OllieC said:
Ahhh Ha!!! I never thought of that. You can buy a screen frame kit at Home Depot for $15 and all would be good. I saw a Ultra II Screen for $52 on ebay.

BTW - I like your modifications. I really wish I could have a table like you built, but I don't have the grab rail behind my seat like you do.
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i hope the screen kit works out for you.....$52 seems a little high for the OEM screen, but not too bad i guess....it seems like EVERYTHING is more expensive for a boat than it should be....

i like working on projects for the boat....they keep me busy and make the boat much more enjoyable....if you really want a cockpit table like i made you could likely find a used grab rail from a boat salvage yard or just a generic SS grab rail (like the one below) and install it on the back of the captain's seat....would be easy to do.....if you could not find a grab rail a heavy duty towel rod (like the one below) would probably work as well.....i can supply you with all the info on the parts and sources for the parts....this was one of the best projects i did....it makes setting up and taking down a table soooooo much more convienient.....and i think it looks pretty good too :grin: ..........


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$T2eC16RHJGsFFMvQYuMFBSQIVSiG9Q~~60_57.JPG
 
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Have any 215EC owners done stereo upgrades to their boat? That is my next projects and have several ideas, but I wanted to see what other people have done. I am really trying to find the best place to mount my amp. Any ideas?
 
Phi502 said:
Have any 215EC owners done stereo upgrades to their boat? That is my next projects and have several ideas, but I wanted to see what other people have done. I am really trying to find the best place to mount my amp. Any ideas?
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i did not install an amp but here is a pic of my new Kenwwod marine head unit and JBL marine speakers.....an amp can draw a lot of battery power depending on what size you install and how loud and long you play the music.....we often stay on the water all day and some nights with the music playing pretty much all the time and i did not want to run my house battery down too much by using an amp.....the built in 45W per channel amp in the head unit is sufficient for me......i like the new head unit because it has both a front AUX jack and a front USB port...that is a slim profile 25 gig flash drive shown in the pic below....you can put a lot of music on 25 gigs of storage space.....it is also bluetooth capable and Sirius sat radio ready......

if i were to mount an amp i would probably mount it behind the helm in the space between the head compartment wall and the helm which is accessed from the removable panel in the head compartment.....i wouild mount it on the head compartment wall since rain water and wash water can leak down around the dash panel and gauges...if you mount the amp on the head compartment wall it would be protected from the water and would have enough air flow to keep it cool.....this would make wiring the amp to the system easy and the wires would be out of sight....

cliff


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Cliff, thanks for the reply. I actually installed the same head unit last summer I think, the Kmr-550. This year I am just looking for a little more. I was thinking the head compartment for the amp as well. I am also looking at adding either another of full range speakers in the back, or a sub. Still trying to decide.
 
I installed my amp (JL Audio M400/4) in the storage area under the counter in the cuddly. There is a 6"-8" board in the back of the storage area that supports the counter. I have not had any heat issues although I am only running a 400w amp power two JL M7.7" coaxials and one M10" Sub. My head unit is in the same location as the picture.

View attachment 33911
I had to run fused 4awg tinned marine + and - cable from the accessory battery (batt 2) directly to the amp. I installed the cables in split duct to help avoid chafing while going through the bulkhead on the port side. It is "VERY IMPORTANT" that you run the correct "FUSED" size "MARINE" power cables to the amp. If you skimp in this area, a fire can result.
 
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OllieC said:
I installed my amp (JL Audio M400/4) in the storage area under the counter in the cuddly. There is a 6"-8" board in the back of the storage area that supports the counter. I have not had any heat issues although I am only running a 400w amp power two JL M7.7" coaxials and one M10" Sub. My head unit is in the same location as the picture.

View attachment 33911
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So do you have yours inside the cabinet? That looks a little different than mine, as I don't have the shelf above. How did you route your power/ ground lead?
 
Phi502 said:
Cliff, thanks for the reply. I actually installed the same head unit last summer I think, the Kmr-550. This year I am just looking for a little more. I was thinking the head compartment for the amp as well. I am also looking at adding either another of full range speakers in the back, or a sub. Still trying to decide.
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if you add another set of speakers in the cockpit you will have to install an AB selector type switch to control the speakers that are active at the same time....i don't think you would be able to run 6 speakers (2 cabin and 4 cockpit) off the head unit/amp at one time.....i installed a set of speakers in the rear of the transom so we can hear the music when we are swimming/floating behind the boat....i installed a rocker switch under the steering wheel that acts like a selector switch....now i can select which speakers or combo of speakers is active....here is a pic of the selector switch and the transom speakers.....

View attachment 33912View attachment 33913View attachment 33912
 
Phi502 said:
So do you have yours inside the cabinet? That looks a little different than mine, as I don't have the shelf above. How did you route your power/ ground lead?
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Yes. Inside the cabinet....but that was because my head unit is in that shelf. If mine was at the helm, I may have chosen a different location, or in the helm as you and cliff were talking about

Both positive and negative were installed directly to the battery, with a fuse in between the positive. I routed mine from the batteries, which are on the port side. I went from the port gunwale to the bulk head/stringer which is by the passenger seat. If I remember, I had to take out the port side speaker and drill a one 1" hole through the stringer/bulkhead. Then I pushed 3/4" split duct through the hole, grabbed it on the other end and pulled. Once the duct was sort of in place, I worked the 4 awg cables through it. When I got through the stringer, it is all open to the cabinet. I cable tied and climbed everything down approx. 8"-10" so there would be limited movement.
 
CliffA said:
i like working on projects for the boat....they keep me busy and make the boat much more enjoyable....if you really want a cockpit table like i made you could likely find a used grab rail from a boat salvage yard or just a generic SS grab rail (like the one below) and install it on the back of the captain's seat....would be easy to do.....if you could not find a grab rail a heavy duty towel rod (like the one below) would probably work as well.....i can supply you with all the info on the parts and sources for the parts....this was one of the best projects i did....it makes setting up and taking down a table soooooo much more convienient.....and i think it looks pretty good too :grin: ..........


24%2522%2BTowel%2BBar.jpg
$T2eC16RHJGsFFMvQYuMFBSQIVSiG9Q~~60_57.JPG
Click to expand...


I think I'm going to keep it as is. The weekender seats are a tad bit different than the Express. It has a completely gel coated fiberglass molded seat back with the Sea Ray logo on it. I'd download a pic but the links are too big. Some of my models have a pedestal table option, I may look into that.
 
OllieC said:
I think I'm going to keep it as is. The weekender seats are a tad bit different than the Express. It has a completely gel coated fiberglass molded seat back with the Sea Ray logo on it. I'd download a pic but the links are too big. Some of my models have a pedestal table option, I may look into that.
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the 215EC seats have a wooden back that can be separated from the rest of the seat.....this is what the grab rail is secured to.....if you do not have this wooden back on your 215WE seats installing a grab rail would definetly become more difficult.......i would look into a different size and/or shape of table for the cockpit.....i do not like how the OEM table top fits so close to the rear cockpit seat that it makes it difficult to get in and out of the seat....maybe a round pedestal table top or maybe a rectangular shaped top that has the base offset some that would move the top further away from the rear seat....you may be able to relocate the base on the OEM table to move the table top away from the rear seat...

cliff
 
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