Which Battery Switch to get?

[clattin]

I have an 87 Chris Craft 187 LTD BR that has an electrical short somewhere that we haven't been able to identify (without completely tearing it apart). I think I'm just going to install a shut off switch so that the battery isn't getting drained while its just sitting. I also thought maybe I'd get a second battery for the boat as a "just in case". Which switch should I get and how do I wire it all together? I would think that I would just connect both batteries to whatever switch you suggest and then I'll select a battery to run off of or put it in the OFF position when the boat isn't in use.

I was planning on buying something at my local West Marine.

Thanks!
Chris

 

[bruceb58]

Perko or Blue Sea 1/2/Both switch.

To isolate which of your circuits is drawing down your battery, take one of the battery cables off and put a multi-meter between the battery terminal and the cable in current measuring mode. Start pulling fuses until you find the circuit that is drawing down your battery?

If you have a stereo installed in your boat, that would be the first one I check.