wiring help

I saw another thread about wiring and I am in a similar situation. My
wiring is pretty ramshackle after several owners who did about as
sloppy job as possible. I'd like to tackle the job of doing it all
properly and don't know what the proper way is.

My electronics and accessory powering requirements consist of:

1) Bow/Anchor Light
2) Garmin Fishfinder
3) VHF Radio
4) Auxilliary docking Lights
5) Aerator

I'm envisioning running 12 guage wire from the main battery to a spot
next to the console for two bus bars (pos & neg).

From the positive bus:
Running leads for each accessory to a fuse block. From the fuse box
running leads to the switch panel or directly to the accessory. (I'm
figuring on the lights and aerator as the only things actually needing
to run to the switch panel as the other accessories have their own
switches already. Is this proper?)

From the negative bus: running leads to the negative connection of
each accessory.

One thing I'm not certain is whether or not a positive bus bar is even
needed, i.e. does the fuse block take the place of the bus bar?

"Charlie Brown" <nospam RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:59mdh2tc2lb8ms6s0uesh8dkr93v0m3fog@4ax.com...
>I saw another thread about wiring and I am in a similar situation. My
> wiring is pretty ramshackle after several owners who did about as
> sloppy job as possible. I'd like to tackle the job of doing it all
> properly and don't know what the proper way is.
>
> My electronics and accessory powering requirements consist of:
>
> 1) Bow/Anchor Light
> 2) Garmin Fishfinder
> 3) VHF Radio
> 4) Auxilliary docking Lights
> 5) Aerator
>
> I'm envisioning running 12 guage wire from the main battery to a spot
> next to the console for two bus bars (pos & neg).
>
> From the positive bus:
> Running leads for each accessory to a fuse block. From the fuse box
> running leads to the switch panel or directly to the accessory. (I'm
> figuring on the lights and aerator as the only things actually needing
> to run to the switch panel as the other accessories have their own
> switches already. Is this proper?)
>
> From the negative bus: running leads to the negative connection of
> each accessory.
>
> One thing I'm not certain is whether or not a positive bus bar is even
> needed, i.e. does the fuse block take the place of the bus bar?

Need to know length of wire needed to run from battery to fuse block.

A fuse block should suffice. The good ones have a substantial brass bus bar
with a sturdy post to attach your feed to. Some of the better ones even have
a ground bus. Consider adding a stout bilge pump and one or two 12V
receptacles along with some conservative cockpit lighting.
Jim