HELP: wiring 17' boat

[tightstripes]

I'm a new boat owner, this spring i plan on wiring my boat.

Just purchased a 6 gang switch panel, and wanted to see what everyone thinks of my plan / diagram for right now; I'm just trying to find out if i'm on the right path so far. The panel won't be in for a couple weeks so i have some more time to research.

Questions:
1) Am i doing anything noticeably wrong from my diagram?

2) I need to figure out what to use for marine grade connectors to connect wires to battery, panel, device wire. Can anybody help point me in any direction for this? Are there any good websites, links, posts on this forum, etc...

3) Would you recommend a battery switch since i have two batteries?

4) What size wire do i need from battery to panel?

5) is it ok to have two terminal connections on the battery (one for the starter, the other to the panel)?

6) is there anyway to put the stern light and bow light on the same switch to free up another switch on the panel for potentially adding a stereo or aerator next year?

Thanks for the help, it will be appreciated

 

[Silvertip]

Re: HELP: wiring 17' boat

Don't know what size fuse you intend to use in the line from the battery to the electric starter but you might be surprised to find that it would blow continuously. There is NO fuse in that line. That line is also battery cable size as is the ground cable. As for connectors you need ring terminals or spade terminals depending on what you intend to connect to. Ring terminals go on threaded studs. Spade terminals go on spade lugs (push on). 10 gauge wire is fine from battery to panel. The battery is the power source for the boat. You can have any number of wires connected to the battery. But only two are generally required since you have a panel. As for the nav/anchor lights: Yes -- one switch can be used but it cannot be a simple ON-OFF switch. It must be an ON-OFF-ON switch (three or six terminals) or four or seven terminals if it has an indicator light. Here are diagrams for both schemes (indicator light is not shown but involves just a ground wire).

Or a three terminal switch with diode (from Radio Shack)