Carver 355 entertainment center

T

timjet

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Joined
Mar 7, 2010
RO Number
32060
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73
I recently purchased a 98 Carver 355 ACMY and would like to replace the dated audio and video equipment in the entertainment center. I'm trying to get some ideas and would love to see some pictures of some of the upgrades members on this forum have done. Please post some idea and even better some pics. Thanks Guys,

Tim
 
I did some updating to our '98 355 entertainment center by having a matching door made to the liquor cabinet and covering the existing area where the TV VCR combo as well as the am/fm/cd changer used to be (the opening is exactly the same size), on the top of the cabinet I placed a 23 inch LCD. The 23 is not too big to overpower the area and does not block the AC vent. AC power and antenna is in the cabinet, I brought through a hole I drilled toward the back of the cabinet top and used one of those computer desk wire access plugs to dress it up.

I don't have any pictures right now, maybe I could get some this weekend if I remember. The space where the tv was provides me with additional storage space. I have yet to replace the radio and cd changer, with the door closed I don't have to look at them and some how they are not quite so dated that way.
 
Bob,
Thanks. I just bought a 19" LCD TV/DVD combo to replace the existing TV/VCR combo. I haven't installed it yet. I thought the 19" was about as big as that area can handle, but will rethink that. If a 23" doesn't interfere with the AC vent then it should work. Trick now is to find a 23" with a built in DVD.
I have a AM/FM CD player that I removed from my car before I sold it that I plan to install after removing all the Kenwood stuff. My CD player also plays MP3's, and with that I don't need all the CD disc capabilities of the original Kenwood.
That should leave a bunch of room for more storage below the new CD player.
How close were you able to match the stain on the new door you had made to the existing stain?

Tim
 
Tim,
I removed the door and took it to a local cabinet shop and asked them to make another one just like it but with the hinges on the left side. They did, it is a perfect match, they even matched the hinges and cabinet pull. The 23 inch TV I used does not have a built in DVD, I have a seperate DVD player located in the old TV opening behind the door.

I also had them make doors for the TV location in the aft state room, the match was pretty good but the sample I provided them was much smaller (upper door) therefore a little more grain in the door but it still looks great. I put a 22 inch flat screen in the middle of the wall to the left of the original location and I was also able to fish the wall back to the origional TV location to pick up power and antenna. There is a LOT of storage under the step in the salon and no visible wires!

I now have more reasons to provide pictures, I will do my best to remember when we go down to the boat this weekend.
 
Bob,
Thanks, look forward to viewing the pics. I just came back from the boat yesterday. I purchased her in May and am doing some upgrading and minor fixing. We had some problems with the engines, but I think they are all settled now. I started the engines for the first time since I purchased it and everything seems fine except for a raw water leak at the raw water pump. The mechanic that did the work is going to fix it the next time I get down there. The hose clamp is impossible for me to get to, at 6'3" I'm just too big. I think the mechanic that did the previous work on it last month probably had the same problem and didn't get it tight for the same reason; very hard to get to.
The PO took the TV out of the aft stateroom and added a shelf for storage. I think we will leave it like that, but he did not match the stain very well on the new doors he had made.
In the saloon area I probably will do like you did and make a door for the area the TV and audio equipment occupies.

Tim
 
This my first attempt at posting a picture so here goes...

100_2282.jpg


I think it worked! The door in person looks like an exact match. I think the flash may have impacted the image, but it still looks good.
 
This is a look at my doors in the aft cabin, again the match in person is much better but the grain is a little more pronounced but very acceptable.
100_2285.jpg
 
Bob,
Thanks for the pics. The doors look very nice. I hope I can do as well. I'll probably do something similar to you in the salon area. We've already bought a 19" TV, but your 23" looks like a good fit. I'm not sure how we will use the TV yet, so haven't determine how much emphasis we want to put into it. We don't have an inverter so it's use will strictly be at the dock or with the genset running.
Our aft cabin has only 2 sets of doors unlike your 3. We have no TV in that room and will probably not install one. But as we use the boat more our thoughts may change.
Thanks again for the pics.
Tim
 
Tim,
The middle set of doors in the aft state room is the factory location for the TV VCR combo. The salon and aft stateroom tv's were the same. There was only a frame around the TV, when I took it out there was a huge hole, I had to cover it with something so there is the third set of doors.

We really only use the TV at the dock, I don't have an inverter either and our cruising is done on the Ohio River with lots of topography above the water line. TV just isn't that great out on the hook. With that being said I also put a 19 inch lcd in the forward stateroom... you know I might have a guest or something.
 
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