Bass boat gauges

All the gauges on the 1996 jaguar I just purchased do not work. The electronic panel doesn't work and I assume they aren't getting power. I plan on running a power wire directly from the battery to a toggle and then to the gauges. My question is this, does the ground need to be connected to the ground coming from the battery or does it actually need to be grounded to something metal? Thanks in advance!

Your boat does not have a metal body/frame like a car/truck has. There is no "ground", just negative connections to the - battery post.

The wires to the senders should be direct wires straight back to units correct? They wouldn't be part of a harness or anything would they?

Those dashes go out and are not supported for parts or repair.Bass Cat has a replacement kit with analog gauges and A 10 touch pad to replace.