Two experiences with the (power station) type battery boxes...I received both of them in used boats and neither one was in serviceable condition. Both had corrosion problems that were advanced enough to make me salvage the copper wiring and ditch the boxes. I can't tell you if the boxes were cheap or expensive ones. I can't tell you how old they were. I can't tell you if they were used in salt. These boxes are a good idea IF you can find a quality built unit. We all know how difficult that is these days. The MinnKota box is certainly expensive enough to qualify. If it's the same as the ones I saw, with a better name, then shame on MinnKota. I feel as though we are at the mercy of global manufacturing standards that better serve the reseller than the customer. Maybe I'm old-fashioned(opinionated too...maybe) but no junky parts are getting into my boat. I'm sick of junk.
Wiring your first jon boat is a great experience. Look for good 'tinned' copper wire that is marine rated. Be careful about dis-similar metals. A brass switch is a nice thing to find these days, but don't mount brass to your aluminum hull. Make a little plastic or wood switch-plate and bond it to the hull; avoids having to drill your new aluminum. A stainless switch is less reactive and direct-mounts better.
Here's a couple of links that interested me. Searched "tinned marine cable" and "marine switches"
https://www.tinnedmarinewire.com/
https://www.colehersee.com/
It's nice when the engine always cranks, the lights don't flicker, the horn works, and the fish-finder finds fish. I hope your boat wiring comes out good.
