Bill,
I did just what you suggested. I rigged up a regular power strip connected to the 12 v battery. I changed all my lights and electronics to just use regular 2-prong plugs. Any electronic device on my boat can be plugged into the power strip and be ready for action. This has been very convenient for night fishing when we have spot lights, underwater lights, and running lights all connected, and then everything can just get unplugged and put away, and turn off the switch on the power strip. I was concerned about the system not being too water resistant, so I got a plastic tupperware box that the power strip goes in, and all the cords run out of a hole in the box. Not perfectly weather sealed, but most adequate for what we need to do. It was inexpensive to set up, too, since I had a box full of random extension cords and what not in my garage. (I wired the trolling motor directly to the battery, didn't want to run it through the power strip.)