My apologies, just saw it now. Will reply. Thank You.

No problem...just didn't know if u had seen it...

I just use a jawbone with my i-phone

Tunes are good

Doesn't it scare the fish?

nope

Totally agree.

I am still getting the courage up to cut holes in a brand new boat, but I am close and really would dig listening to games and tunes during hot summer days.

As long as the install is clean and functional, it can't hurt.

I have a fish and ski and it came with a stereo, which of course went on the fritz and I removed it. I have to say that on some of those summer nights while fishing and listening to a Rangers game were pretty relaxing. I missed my stereo. BPS, during their boat show has run a special, buy a stereo get it installed for free. Needless to say that motivated me. The other night after picking my boat up, I sat in the drive way on the boat listening to tunes and cleaning and going through tackle......I am glad I decided to have it put in.

I say go for it. I did on my 20i Skeeter and love it. If I want to listen to nature I turn it off. It is great to have when at the storage shed getting things ready or working on the boat or after fishing cleaning at the ramp. Also great for the family, they enjoy the days on the lake more. I will pm you some pics of my set up.

My previous boat was a 1989 Cajun Fish N' Ski that I bought used for $3K and I installed a Marine radio in. Speakers lasted about a year, but the unit was still going strong when I sold the rig last Spring. But no way I will cut and drill to put one in my $30k Legend. I just take the Iphone speaker my wife bought me for Christmas (called Music Bullet I think) and pull up the Pandora app and alternate between "Outlaw Radio" and "Heavy Metal Radio". It has a rechargeable battery that lasts for hours.

Noise, Hitting stumps with Trollling motor, shutting lid boxes, stomping in the boat don't distrub the bass at all for the most part.

Not sure when it comes to bed fishing, but most any other time not a problem......

Was having the same dilemma but decided to go with a stereo to make those long no wake zones more enjoyable and just cruising looking for humps and drop offs. Did not want to cut holes so I got Polk box speakers. I also wanted to have weather band.

Why not go with some tunes in the boat dude. Always nice when tinkering with the boat on land and even while fishing in an area that the sound might not bother anyone else. Best to mount the unit and speekers where they will stay as dry as possible and still sound good.
I have 4 100 watt Jensens pushed by an amp and Sony Marine CD/MP3/am-fm tuner. Lots of opinions on whether or not music being played in a boat while fishing makes a difference in success. My opinion is that fish are curious and I have caught many a big fish while rocking out to my tunes.

My recommendation if concerned about "long-term" value, don't cut the glass, in my dual console, I put them on the sideboards under the consoles. These are just marine hardboard covered in carpet, so if down the road I wanted to hide the evidence, I could either simply recarpet (without cutting out the hole), or just simply pull the old boards, cut new ones, recarpet and replace.
This also keeps the speakers out of direct splash/rain/spray, although they aren't as clear up front, they get enough bounce off seats and such to be fine. (Since I installed originally for the wife fishing in back, for that purpose they are fine). Only time I've used them solo was for fishing reports during the last Berkley on Fork, otherwise I usually don't even put in the faceplate.

I did not want to cut the glass on my 2006 Skeeter so I built two small speaker boxes and mounted them under the consol to the front wall. Never had any issues and they sound great. When done all I have to do is removed the screws and wire and you will never be able to tell they were there.