Spaghetti, hold the meatballs…..

[spareparts]

#8 red for the main hot from the battery switch to the fuse block. You need to be able to cut it off. #8 black from the negative terminal to the ground buss on the fuse panel. Using #8 will allow you to add more stuff later on. #14 wire will be fine for all of your accessories. Number 16 on real low amperage stuff<10 amps. Using a ground buss bar behind the dash and at the transom will save you a lot of black wire, and it should make it easier to diagnose a problem if you have one.

[charlie_the_tuna]

Ok, if I run a circuit breaker in-line hot wire, how many amps?
Or should I just rely on the fuse block?

[SkunkBoat]

get one of these. Put it in a dry accessible place behind the dash.
run the 8awg black and red to it.. 8/2 awg duplex will simplify the job.
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Syst...ps%2C68&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Lawrence-Mari...ps%2C55&sr=8-4

The Red wire has to be fused or have a 30A circuit breaker near the battery.
If you use a surface mount 30A Bussman 185 type breaker it can be used as an on/off switch also.

or... You could use an MRBF battery terminal 30A block fuse

[spareparts]

those parts skunk listed will work fine. Mercruiser uses a 90 amp fuse to the accessory feed on sterndrives. Most older outboard boats i work on aren't fused at all. I believe(IIRC) USCG requires a fuse within 18 inches of the power feed. SO its always a good idea to use a fuse or a breaker coming out of the battery switch. Like Skunk said, the face mount breakers can be used as a switch. I prefer not to use that type in this application as they can be tripped easy unintentionally( they do have their place). I prefer fuses as I keep a box of spare fuses on board, you get a bad breaker, you're stuck. I can feed it fuses of increasing size till I'm at the dock where I can do a more permanent repair.

[charlie_the_tuna]

That’s almost identical to the box I ordered from eBay, except for $30 less. Grabbed some wiring from Home Depot and couldn’t believe what they’re getting for wire these days. Last time I bought wiring was when I rewired my old VEGA. Pretty much have what I need except decent weather. All I need now is time, youth and something to pull the dam thing with. I’ll keep you guys posted.

[SkunkBoat]

I would recommend NOT using Home Depot wire. Use marine grade "Tinned" stranded copper wire.

And absolutely NEVER use solid wire.

[scook]

And in the salt, corrosion will a huge issue. I use marine wire and waterproof crimp connectors - then when you’ve tightened the nut on the connector, soak it with a good rust barrier like Boeshield or Corrosion-X. There’s no need to have bad connections from corrosion.