O.K., here's what I do with battery terminals:
First, make sure the batteries are firmly secured, and the terminals and lugs are clean.
Second, stack the lugs onto the terminals in such a manner that, when tightened, there will be no gaps.
Third, tighten with nylok nuts to about 10 ft-lbs of torque. I've never had or heard of such an application coming loose, but I suppose it has, somewhere. I don't worry about heat generated at the terminal because the nylok has to come loose first, or there has to be substantial corrosion on one or more of the lugs or the battery terminal itself. I have control over those conditions by routine inspections. I don't use split ring lock washers because if you use a flat washer, lock washer and standard nut, you have the functional equivalent of a nut with an oversized, smooth bottom. The lock washer doesn't do anything, other than supply a very limited force along the axis of the terminal post. But, if you want to use split rings, fine and dandy.
Fourth: apply multiple coats of West Marine Electrical Connection Sealant (costs about $8 per can) to the entire connection (terminal, lugs, nuts, etc.) until you can't see any metal showing through. This way, you don't have exposed connections, which is a big no-no, and the whole mess is so locked in place that it's not going anywhere.
If anyone knows of this setup failing on a C-Dory class boat, let me know.
