Removing grill covers of Clarion 6.5" marine speakers

Download the installation manual to this set, and check the wiring

Use either front or rear speaker outs. Cap or tape others off.

Might be set on mute !

Mute instructions
Use this function to turn off the sound immediately.
1. Press the [ M ] button.
The sound turns off and "MUTE" appears in the display.
2. Press the [ M ] button again to cancel the mute mode

in this other user manual it is a mute button[m] page 4
http://www.clarion.com/us/en/MungoBlobs/552/388/XMD3.pdf

or

Adjusting the fader
1. Press the [ A-M ] button and select "FAD 0".
2. Press the [ w ] button emphasizes the sound from the front
speaker, press the [ z ] button emphasizes the sound from the
rear speaker.
? The factory default setting is "FAD 0". (Adjustment range: F12 to
R12)
3. When the adjustment is complete, press the [ A-M ] button
several times until the function mode is reached

Best bet is to take your boat to a qualified Marine Audio dealer (generally not a boat repair shop or marina), or to a good quality Car audio store that is insured to work on boats (separete insurance usually).
When it comes to boats, you need lots of power and speakers.
First thing to do is make sure what you have is properly installed. Then determine what is "distorting" .. is it too much base, purely volume or what.
Most boats we do (wakeboard style and river boats) we do: 40-75 watts RMS per speaker 4-6 speakers in boat 1 10" or 12" sub with 200-300 watts RMS Tower speaker if requested with 75-125 Watts RMS per speaker

Disconnect all the speaker leads and then hook one speaker (a new, known to work speaker) up directly to the radio using a short (6"-12") piece of speaker wire. Does that speaker work then?

try to unplug each speaker one by one while playing it. There can be a defective speaker that grounds out at the speaker terminal or internally causing the amp to go into protection causing all the speakers to go out.

Hello cgregerson,

If you are running just the front channels to 2 CM1635's, you will need a 2-channel marine certified amp with approximately 50 watts RMS output per channel.

The MB Quart NAU-260 here would be a good inexpensive choice.

For a little more power and quality, I'd recommend the JL Audio M2150.

To run both front and rear channels, you need a 4-channel amp with 50 watts RMS per channel.

The Kicker MX350.4 marine certified amp would be a good choice.

Hope this helps.

of course, the only problem is finding someone to do it, and is the speaker really that nice and worth the money

Most covers hold themselves in place. You may have to pry it a little harder. It could have rust around the edges and will not come out easy.

IT may be to late but you can buy a JVC radio model KD-SX50M tat will be plug and play. I just purchased one for 69.00. I had a simialr situation and that was all it was.