If it were me, and it just might be, I would call Bazzoka Tech Support and get their input on which way(s) to make the proper power connection.I just looked it up, the Marine unit instructions says it is a chassis ground. It specifically says they do not recommend extending the grounding cable to the battery, says it can cause ground loops. So, do I not follow the instructions? This has me confused.
Edit: Just want to say I do appreciate all the input and I pass it along to the guy doing my installation. It is just difficult to talk him into doing something when he says it should not be that way, it says right here in the instructions on how to do it. So I really am listening to you guys
Derrik, don't take my postings wrong, you have been a great help. It was suggested on here that I contact them, I did. Just for clarification, I have googled this, and it is 50% one way or the other. I have trolled
different sites for Marine installation and this is ALWAYS a huge debate. Anyway, like you said I am probably fine with just this quick small installation of mine so I will just run with it and change it in the future if I have to.My installer says Bennington ran 10 guage from battery to my helm. I don't know if that is good or bad
that's why I put the laugh in! My point was simply that every major MARINE stereo company all say battery. I'm not sure where you are seeing a 50/50 split as so far pretty much every reputable forum I go to, for boating, says battery. Here is a link to Wakeworld, these guys know stereos, and the link actually has install comments from both the Kicker rep and the Earmark Audio guy. It also has an interesting schematic for reducing / eliminating ground hum from headunit which I have never seen, but I'm almost positive that was how my cousin made me do! Haha now I know why!
Haha, sounds like a handful! The part that makes me laugh about him is that he saw it fit to run 8G power, but figures 10G ground will "work just fine". So under the helm there is probably 10G + for powering the accessories, 10G - for grounding them, but then he figures it makes sense to add 8G of power without the need to add more grounding ability. As far as his "voltage and readings" well it won't tell him crap. If the ground cable is maxed, then the power cable won't be fully utilized. Think of it like a highway, if you have an 8 lane highway filled with cars, then a tunnel that only has two lanes, how much throughput do you have? 2 lanes. So I stand by what I say, I think it will limit the output. Another thing to keep in mind is that with long runs of power and ground, Bigger is always better! An 8G wire with a long run can have enough resistance to only provide a 10 or even 12G throughput. That goes for ground wire too. Which is why running quality wire, such as Wet Sounds Wet Wire(Yeah, I am with you Derrick on over doing things the first time. My problem is I am working away and the guy that was recommended to me to do the install is very stubborn. I told him I don't care the extra time it takes, I will pay. He just seemed like he was going to do it the way he always does no matter what. He said he turned everything on that he could, took voltage and amp readings, let my system play for 30 minutes and everything still measured fine. I just found it difficult to argue with him from away and my limited experience. Next time, it will be overdone!
) , can make a huge difference, and also costs a fortune! I understand you are at the mercy of your installer in your situation, I would be interested to know what "readings" he would have if he just took a ground cable and ran it on top of the deck to the battery. To see if there was an increase in audio output. Although as I said originally, with just a single small amp in the Bazooka, it may not matter. BUT for anyone else, such as the original poster to this thread, I would highly recommend, as would every other major marine manufacturer and every high powered installation wakeboat forum that I could find. 
See, I told you way back that Derrick would give you all the info you needed and you SHOULD LISTEN TO HIM.
He has "Been there, Done That" and has pictures. 2 amps, nice speakers and sub. Damn thing would shut off if I hit some rough water. Would have to turn it back on. However, it worked good on the trailer in the garage. I used to turn it up so we could hear it while swimming in the pool. , would always have his stero blasting with some head banging crap that would muffle my Kid Rock music. I just basically gave all that stuff away with the boat when I sold it.
Tooncrazy, I just want to say, back to the original question, I am obviously a fan of the Wet Sounds AS-10. I have yet to hear anyone on here complain about its performance. I don't have any door rattle, and never leave it open. If I did, some simple gasket material would solve that issue. Another reason I like the AS-10 is because it is a 10" sub. In my younger years in cars, I've had 8" and 10", and drove around for more hours than I like to remember in my buddies with 2 12". Point is I like the sound of a 10". 8's can give a super tight bass, but don't perform as well as a 12" for really low rumble. I find 10's to be the perfect fit/compromise between the two. Obviously you need to have the power to move the 12" too! I see Wet Sounds now have a 6.5" sub available, I would love to hear it and see if it would work well for some extra fill up front, you know because the 10" at the helm and 2 10's in the loungers just aren't enough!!! Haha. All that being said, obviously the AS-10 does come with the issue of running cable, which we have covered enough, so for a simple addition, the Bazooka will perform just fine as you described it. I'm not sure how well it will carry to the front passengers, especially while under way, but for floating around, probably be just fine. Every situation has a different solution.
Yes they are a bit on the heavy side but with good cause. My YETI 125 weighs 52# empty. You set it down put in 60-90 beers, a few water bottles ( to mix with the bourbon later in the evening), then fill it with ice and sprinkle a little Rock Salt over it. I did this last Friday. When I emptied it out on Sunday evening, there were 3 water bottles in the bottom that had froze.Toon'r, funny, my next purchase may be a Yeti cooler, but dang they are heavy
Yes, I hear they are the best. I have never heard about the rock salt trick before, does this keep the ice longer?
I never thought about rock salt!