ok so here is what I've come up with and I think it will fit my needs well.
from the battery I'll run a positive wire (8 ga maybe?) to a fuse block I just picked up.
from the block I'll run the positive wires (12 ga ?)to the item to be powered (ie. bilge, livewell, lights...)
Then the negative wire from the item being powered will go to the positive side of the switch.
From the switches I'll run a negative wire to one side of my battery shut-off switch.
Then from the other side I'll run another 8ga wire back to the negetive terminal on the battery.
sound good?
I'll be making my switch panel next week sometime I think.