[jimmythegreek]

Having a dash switch is fine, BUT you want that to be master power which you will wire inline to the main bus bar that you have or install. I like to use at least a 20 amp circuit for freshwater and 30amp for salty boats. The bus bars are avail at any marine supply and are fused right at the bus bar, the micro fuses are great and easy to replace on a pinch all gas stations have them and small stores. You then run a proper guage wire to your equip and you are all set, as said your bilge(s) should be fused and wired directly to the house battery. I also install a second main fuse right at the battery terminal of the same master feed guage, you want this in the event of a dead short so you do no damage to any wiring that is already run/hidden/unaccessible so that any melted damaged wiring is right at the battery before that fusable link. I prefer having a master power switch so that you know your battery will never drain leaving a radio on or an accessory. This is how most new boats are equipped OEM from the manufacturer, and what a battery switch does in most boats