Technically there is no ground on a boat. Electrically speaking the ground is the conductor connected to the earth. With marine electrical systems we need to think of things in slightly different terms. All of my stereo system electrical components connect to a junction block that is connected to the battery with 1/0 wire. This places all of the stereo's electrical components at the same voltage. What you want to avoid is your amps (-) terminals being connected to a different potential than your decks (-) potential. This is something that can cause alternator whine/noise. My stereo battery bank is connected to the boat's charging circuit through the boat's factory battery via a combiner. If I had upgraded my alternator I would have connected the stereo batteries to the charging circuit at the block and alternator. If you attach the negative lead of an amplifier to factory ground plate you are most likely overloading the factory electrical system. This would be the case with my system in my Nautique, my buddies Malibu electrical system was adequate for the addition of two 100W amplifiers. My point is that this answer will change depending on the size of your alternator, size of your amplifiers (and lighting systems), and the size of the boat's factory mains.
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