Just to put my two cents in on this:
I have used and sold different automotive terminals. There are crimp on
non-insulated, crimp on with insulation, crimp on with heat shrink tube,
solder with shrink tube, and my favorite, crimp on with solder and
shrink tube. The last one, with a good crimper, will be a near
bulletproof connector. The only caveat on the solder or shrink tube, is
to use either a heat gun or a cordless butane soldering iron with a
special tip to heat the solder and shrink tube and not melt or burn it.
A lighter or match can be used in a pinch, but you might want to
practice, since more times than not, you'll end up with a scorched
and/or perforated insulation jacket.
Also, when making open connections, a little dielectric grease on those
connections throughout the boat (light bulbs, fuses, exposed
connections, etc.) will substantially help your current flow, while
slowing down corrosion and maintenance on those connections. This would
be more evident in salt water climes.
If anyone wants sources for these, please let me know.
Steve Bayless
Rookie Skipper
#3491 "Liebchen"
Port Huron, MI
