You're better off with CDJ's unless you want your needles broken. I think on a big boat, like a cruise ship, TT's are possible. Not sure about that though. On a regular party boat, CDJ's are probably the way to go.

needles broken!? I guess .. i Never Thought about that.


I was Just thinking about needle jumping off the recordd


If I was to use turntables I'd probably just cue up in rel and switch to int mode on the other

deck dubbling up to play since I'd only Bring Out One Turntable With & my 62

I just had a flashback from master of the mix last season when they all did a set on a boat with TT's. One guy had vinyl flying off. Good call on jumping into internal though, I do that all the time actually. Can't risk the needle getting bumped or dust distorting the sound. I say go for it man, long as you throw it into internal afterwards and watch the needle. Hell, pick it up even if it's in internal anyways until you want to cue up the next track.

I used to play on a boat every single week, with turntables.
They alternated the boats depending on ticket sales but it was anywhere from 150-500 the boats were licensed for.
There will always be a few moments where you need to make a quick dive to internal. It probably happened to me 1-2 times a night (over a 3.5 hour set)

There was one particular boat where the booth was right over the prop, which introduced a lot of vibration when the captain was using high power. That one was a pain, but none of the others ever had any issue.

I would Think The Bigger Boats Would Be Less Vibration Than The Smaller In Theory

What is Your Personal Experience?

Definitely. I use CDJs on the boats now (because they got rid of the turntables, and I don't live close enough to bother carrying my own) and it is kind of nice not having to think about vibration or anything like that at all.
If there were still turntables there though, I'd still be using them.

LoL Yeah? Hmm Okay Maybe I'll bring my SLDZ-1200 gonna stress test it out in my house with bumping it etc see how it goes it is from 2005 so i dunno

otherwise i'll be bringing tables

I think I used to put a little extra weight on my needles when I was on boats, but not much.
I'd just take your tables, if it is an issue- just mix the track in and go to internal mode while it plays out- best way to find out is by testing it and with SSL, it's not going to ruin a night if you find out it doesn't work 100%

what needles do you use and how much weight?

Shure whitelabels, Looking at how I have them set now (2.5gms) I must've been using 3-3.5 when I was on boats.

I used TT and My Sldz1200 on a boat no issues. I do remember 1 time the captain started the boat and blew out the whole left side of our amp rack. lol

Yeah, boat power can be terrible.
I've seen it a few times where the generator will be fluctuating power up and down, causing the lights to keep dimming.

^^^Basically this...

I did a gig on a Boat last summer but I used just one 1200 and Internal because I was on the bill with a CDJ - Non serato DJ and didn't feel like lugging both 1200's from far away parking and up and down the narrow stairs for set-up.

Bouncing to Internal worked well - I was on a middle floor on a Stage and I could feel the floor flexing as people danced. The actual "motion" of the boat was a non issue.

The only real problems I had was when some of the "thicker chicks" began to line dance to Wobble and when younger members of the Fraternity that was giving the Boat ride came in "Stepping REAL STRONG" when I played "their" song,,,,

Internal worked but needle was jumping so much on the "live" turntable that I couldn't mix out,,,,

I have done a few myself, wind for the most part is the main issue. I have leaned to dj using just the laptop only just in case and it has paid off on the boat.. Some of the best parties are on boats but getting your equiment there and on the boat is a whole nother story in it's self. WHAT A FUCKING PAIN!!!!!

Would I need to bring a power
Conditioner or would a surge protecter be fine?

So wind and fat chicks.. Are the two downfalls lol

I think I'll play on tables

Funkytownstopsix

What was your pain on getting equipment on the boat? Any heads up I could get to make it easier ?

Most often parking is far from where the boat is docked.You may have many obstacles to navigate through before you even get to the boat. Also depending on the size of the boat the loading ramps or ramp to the boat vary in size and type but the ones I hate are the ones with the bars that go across the ramp so you don't fall but not friendly to dollies. Last there might may be a drop getting onto the boat so you will have to pass your equipment. Sometimes I can get on a boat with ease and some times it's a little hard.

May not make it easy on you but at least you will know what your getting into... your young and strong so it will not be an issue with it.

I have to say a smaller boat such as you're describing is one scenario where using a controller...maybe even one of those iPad DJ apps...would make the most sense.

Unless it's exceptionally calm, I don't think turntables are going to work on the size of boat I think you're talking about.

Did one boat party some years back (pre-Serato era) using CDJ's and the biggest challenge was keeping the gear from sliding right off the table when the boat hit big swells/wakes from big ships. Everything had a nice coating of salt spray afterwards...that makes me think I wouldn't want to take a computer into a similar scenario. That was in SF Bay on a windy summer evening, maybe the water is calmer where you'll be.

^ this guy is a vet^ I admit now that as of this year I pass these boat parties to my Dj proteges and take a $150-200 cut. FYI there has been to boat parties on the lake that they would not let the boat go out which was cool with me, party on the boat tied to the dock.... I hate small boats love big boats just ask the vet he can tell you...