Thanks for the thoughts.

Home dept has stranded wire all gouges

Remember the coast guard want the fums to BE OUTSIDE the living spaces and require if any acid spills is it caught up in plastic and fiberglass containers

I doubt 6 large batteries will throw off your balance as much as you think, especially if you arent putting them in an area where you are already somewhat misbalanced to begin with. My boat is probably similar in size and balance to yours and since I dont currently have any fuel in my tanks I have around 10 batteries to the rear of my boat and still sit high in the back according to the factory painted waterline. Put them in the rear and just dont fully fill some of your tanks and you'll be fine.

Speaking on wire gauge to an electric head, I was amazed how thick of a wire I needed to supply my newly implemented electric macerator. I just gave up and put a head dedicated battery under the cabinet beside the head..lol. Also, I havent seen stranded low gauge wire at Home Depot, only maybe 12 guage and thinner but maybe I didnt look in the right place or my local stores vary. As far as cheap for the same product goes, I've found Walmart usually cheapest, then chain auto supply stores (Advance Auto), then wholesalers such as Sam's/Costco, then Home Depot or Lowes. Sometimes batteries might be cheaper at Costco but they always want to tack on the $5 core fee and are shocked if you bring a core.

The stuff they sell at HD is stranded but not marine grade. For a given size marine grade has many more finer strands and is a lot more flexible. .



http://shop.genuinedealz.com/Marine%20Grade%20Wire/?gclid=CP WK1r3kkogCFSJHSgod03IABQ
OLD HOUSEBOATER39015.8503240741

It depends on how you get it load already.

I would try the batters where you are going to put them before the do the install. That way could always move them if necessary.

Home Depot, in the electrical suction, there should be a 'wheel' (that Capet come on) only a few showing at once. Mine has 8/10/12/14 and some up to 4/0 (really big) and the all come on spools, no cartons. (the say oil and gas restraint)

I am gonna keep my fuel tanks full, I am not a lake....... and the weather blew in a hurry, and I have (2) gen-set to.

Just being oil and gas resistant doesn't make it legal, it needs the UL 1426 label. Also that wire probably isn't tinned wire.

If you want good prices on marine wiring try this place: http://stores.ebay.com/Genuinedealz

Good prices, great service and legal marine wiring.