Hello All, I am newb to the forums as well as boat ownership. I grew up waterskiing but somehow never owned my own until now. Bought a 2001 Chaparral 216SSi project boat with a 5.7 GSI Volvo Penta. Previous owner had thought he had freeze damaged the engine (winter of 2010), so he took one of the heads off and lost interest in the project for a year until I bought it for $4500.
Turns out he had popped the freeze plugs, but other than than no freeze damage. What he had done was run the engine detonating so bad that he tuliped about half the valves and broke the ring lands on half the pistons.
Anyway, while I have the engine out I have been looking at the wiring making sure I understand everything. There was pretty significant sound system in the boat with two amplifiers, one for the 6 full range speakers, and one for the two subs he had under the back seats. It also has a Perko dual battery switch,
, but the boat was wired so the only thing coming off of the 2nd battery was the sterieo system. The boat also has a separate main power switch. The slightly weird thing is I expected the house power to be supplied off of the #2 position on the Perko, but instead it seems to be wired on the main power switch from Perko position #1.
. (There is a combiner device in the circuit also) 
I am thinking I should probably change the wiring so that the house power is supplied from the #2 position on the Perko so as not to run the main starting battery down if someone bumps a fan switch or a light switch and we don't see it while sitting on the lake. Anyone see any reason I should not change the house power to the #2 battery?
BTW, the boat only had one battery when I got it, what does everyone recommend for the house battery (I assume deep cycle, but which make/model)?
Turns out he had popped the freeze plugs, but other than than no freeze damage. What he had done was run the engine detonating so bad that he tuliped about half the valves and broke the ring lands on half the pistons.
Anyway, while I have the engine out I have been looking at the wiring making sure I understand everything. There was pretty significant sound system in the boat with two amplifiers, one for the 6 full range speakers, and one for the two subs he had under the back seats. It also has a Perko dual battery switch,
, but the boat was wired so the only thing coming off of the 2nd battery was the sterieo system. The boat also has a separate main power switch. The slightly weird thing is I expected the house power to be supplied off of the #2 position on the Perko, but instead it seems to be wired on the main power switch from Perko position #1.. (There is a combiner device in the circuit also) I am thinking I should probably change the wiring so that the house power is supplied from the #2 position on the Perko so as not to run the main starting battery down if someone bumps a fan switch or a light switch and we don't see it while sitting on the lake. Anyone see any reason I should not change the house power to the #2 battery?
BTW, the boat only had one battery when I got it, what does everyone recommend for the house battery (I assume deep cycle, but which make/model)?