The amp has to be hooked to the battery. If you hook it to any ignition fuse or anything other than the battery you run the risk of frying the MPEM. That will be a very expensive lesson. The good thing about these boats though, is they have the battery switch. Hook it to the common post on the battery switch that gets power once the switch is turned on. When you take the switch out, it is the one with the most wires on it.
I ran all new speaker wires. The ones that are on the boat were very corroded and nasty once I got a look at them. I am guessing yours will probably be the same. I ran all the wires in 1" wire loom from the storage compartment where the amp is, down into the ski locker. Run that to the back of the boat and into the engine compartment. Then the speaker wires just went back up the stern side. Use a wire fish tape. Made it very easy. I picked it up at Home Depot for like 20 bucks. When I added the LED lights in the cupholders though, I ran the wires across the ski locker in the front and then back up through the driver side storage compartment and then into the stern side of the hull. It was pretty easy. So really, you could do the speaker wires for that side either way you choose.
As far as the holes, I was lucky and had the 2 small rear speakers installed. I think they were in the factory location. The wires were stuck to the inner hull right at the holes. So if you go back and look at my thread with the pics, you will see where it is ok to cut. The front holes had me a little nervous though. The port side is easy. Nothing is back there except the wires for that radio harness. On the stern side though, you have all the throttle cables for the controls and lots of wires. Put the hole in the same spot I did and you will be ok. As you are cutting,you can tell when you are about through, just go slow then so you dont push the blade deep and cut something. Save that hole for last and you will have the hang of it by then. On the rear holes, you will have to cut out a chunk of the foam flotation panels.
Some tips.......Tape pff the area because the saw may try to walk around a little at first, That way you dont scuff up the gel cote. Use a corded drill. A cordless wont have the ummph needed. A corded drill will cut through like butter. Take your time. When drilling into the gel cote, spin the drill in reverse till it cuts through. That keeps you from chipping the gel cote all up. Wear long sleeves and goggles. Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck.!!!
