I'm installing a recreational-type West Marine stero in my Cape Dory sailboat. I have connected the speakers, hide the wiring, etc., and .wired a ground and hot wire to connect directly into my battery.I did not connect the accessary wire because of a seemly full 12 volt switching panel unit.My questions are1) where should I ground the radio 2) where should I connect the hot or positive wire . I don't care at this point on whether the station memory works but if I could re-tune or play cd's each time I choose , that would be great. The radio is a Dual MXD55 AM/FM/CD Marine Receiver. On this radio and the connection directions I specifically did the following: 1) Connected the four speaker wires as indicated to the speakers and receiver. 2) Left the REAR AMP connection from the receiver alone( no connection) 3)Left the REMOTE connection un-connected ( insulated it with electrical tape) 4) Don't know except to the battery , where the best location is to GROUND (Connect to chassis ground) 5)Didn't connect the ACCESSARY wire to existing ignition circuit or switiched 12 volt source. 6) Connect MEMORY to battery circuit or constant 12 volt source( positive ground on battery) Any thoughts or directions out there?

Well, I'm not too familiar with marine installs, but I would say to just attach your ground as close to your radio as you can. it doesnt matter where it is, as long as it makes a connection to the chassis. as for the power (yellow), I would just run a new wire all the way to the battery, so you dont interrupt any of the other electronics or overload any fuses. just install maybe a 15 or 20 amp fuse close to the battery on that power wire, and be sure to use a good enough size. 12 or even 14 gauge should be plenty. the memory (red) wire doesnt draw much current, so you should be able to attach that to an existing circuit thats switched with no problems. if you want to be safe, then you may wnat to up the fuse size on that circuit by maybe 5 amps, just to be sure the fuse doesnt burn.

I'm assuming that this is a wooden or fiberglass hull (not a boat person). Ground for the radio needs to be either through the chassis (any existing screw or mounting stud on the radio will do) or via the manufacturers installed wire. That takes care of the NEGATIVE.

The Positive wire from the battery or from a switch must be attached to the correct input wire to properly power the radio, you can probably connect it to the memory (hold) input (which will drain your battery if left connected long enough) but that is not the best place.

Did this help? I am assuming that this is a new radio and you have the manufacturer supplied wiring diagram. If you do and my suggestion did not help, I could sure use a look at it to further advise you.