But is it a MARINE stereo?!
I seem to remember a comparison some years ago in PS that showed that there was some real difference in the marinized versions in the form of silicone sprayed on the circuit boards. Their "real world conclusion" was, as I recall, that for the price of the marinized (marinated?) version you could throw away a typical on-sale car stereo every couple years and come out ahead.
It get damp here in the NW, and I know of sailors who take the stereo home in the winters. One friend of mine bought on of the last of the "pull out" chassis versions several years ago just so he could do this easily.
When we got the Olson it had "marine" (!) cockpit speakers and a stereo in the cabin. The cockpit speakers were mounted in 6 inch cutouts in the combings and in 5 years had totally rusted their innerds into magnetic lumps. The radio sort of worked... but when I took it out and looked inside it was corrosion everywhere. I threw it all away. Silence is a good thing...
My intuition is that protecting the circuit is only part of the problem. The moving parts in the cassett player or cd player will go away if left in a marine environment. I kinda like the idea of a low price throw-away unit that you use until it gets cranky and then toss it.
As I am not a total Luddite, we will likely have a new stereo system someday. The Admiral sez refrigeration would make her happier than rock n roll, for the near-future project list...
Fair winds to you, and cd's by Jimmy Buffet,
Loren
Olson 34 , Portland, OR