Capt.
All good advice, but.
You must use marine wire. Not so much for the insulation. Most will do that. But marine wire is much more flexible because the strands inside are MUCH thinner.
The reason is the boat is bouncing and moving as a way of life. A house does not. So years of use of the stiffer stuff breaks strands. In turn created bad connections. And when used create heat. More than you want.
Get the right wire first off. Don't scrimp on supports. Add lots of straps every few feet- preferable less than a foot if you can.
Seal it. Solder the electrical connections. Seal with heat shrink to keep water out. Use liquid electrical tape under the shrink tubing. Crimp connctions should be avoided if possible and shrink tube it too. But if un avoidable crimp connections work. But try to set up from water intrusion into the starnds and down the wire.
Ever cut a wire and see the copper is not copper colered- green, grayish? That's water finding it's was INSIDE the insulation from the open end. You see that often when stripping the insulation further back. Usually it's a WTF moment.
Hope that helps? Was and still am a state licensed electrician. I also teach them. So maybe I have a thought or two.
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