Marine vs. automotive parts (Stupid question)

[Sparky_1988]

I'm newly back to the boating scene having just bought a slightly used, but problematic runabout. I have a Volvo Penta 4.3 GXi-B, which you all know shares a heritage with the Mercury 4.3's and hundreds of thousands of GM trucks.

Given the above, I'm finding parts for the marine engines that look identical to the GM truck parts are three times the cost. I doubt they are "marinized" in any way other than possible slight differences that could impact performance. Maybe the MAP or throttle position sensors or the IAC sensors ARE tuned to require different voltages and produce different outputs. If the electrical characteristics are different, I can see why a relatively low production part would be much more expensive.

I don't know. Do you? Has anyone used GM truck parts such as the above on their marine engines? I'm just curious to know what the actual difference IS!

Thanks!

 

[jimmbo]

I'm sure several people have used non-marine parts on their marine engines. Have their boats exploded? Maybe, or they've been very lucky. In some cases, on EFI it might very well be a different calibration due to the difference conditions facing a marine engine, being a low volume item compared to hundreds of thousands for automobiles. In other cases the differences are to prevent fuel from getting to an ignition source and vice versa. So called externally 'identical' parts, may be different internally. Or to prevent failure due to corrosion; gaskets, water pumps, and core plugs come to mind

 

[Sparky_1988]

Hi, Jimmbo. Kinda what I was thinking. I'm not interested in substituting these parts, but I AM curious to see if anyone has.

 

[thumpar]

When it comes to sensors there are usually the same. The Mercruisers actually used an IAC off of the Ford Aerostar van. The TPS I bought (was super clearance priced so why not) looks just like the ones I have replaced on cars and trucks. The thinks you need to watch out for are things that can make a spark. The alternator, starter, distributor, ect. A few years ago there was a blowup at the ramp I use because the guy used an auto alternator or starter, can't remember which, but it blew up with a young kid sitting next to the doghouse.

 

[Sparky_1988]

Wow. Sounds like a good argument to use genuine parts.

 

[jimmbo]

Another good argument is if you boat were to blow up, or catch fire and the insurance company finds a non-marine carb, starter, alt, etc, they will refuse to cover your Liabilities.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Another good argument is if you boat were to blow up, or catch fire and the insurance company finds a non-marine carb, starter, alt, etc, they will refuse to cover your Liabilities.

And if the "Slip-And-Fall" Lawyers for the "Victim" found out in "Discovery" ,they would likely take your house!

 

[slag]

Another good argument is if you boat were to blow up, or catch fire and the insurance company finds a non-marine carb, starter, alt, etc, they will refuse to cover your Liabilities.

Yes, however the chances of this happening are infinitesimally small. For example, average joe blow insurance company adjuster won't know the difference between an automotive starter and a marine starter or an automotive alternator and marine alternator. They will question the owner who said there was a spark and it ignited the fumes, or, "it just blew up when I hit the starter button." I know this because my wife is an adjuster for a major insurance carrier and she has been called out to examine boat claims regarding things like this. It's much cheaper and easier to pay out a 5k to 20k claim on a blown up boat than it is to hire an inspector, go through the training for your adjusters on what to look for, etc, at least where we live in the middle of the US where we only boat on lakes. I imagine on the coasts the adjusters are more versed in this type of thing where boats are plentiful.

 

[jimmbo]

Sounds like Negligence and lack of Due Diligence on the part of the Adjustor, and the Underwriter.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Yes, however the chances of this happening are infinitesimally small. For example, average joe blow insurance company adjuster won't know the difference between an automotive starter and a marine starter or an automotive alternator and marine alternator. They will question the owner who said there was a spark and it ignited the fumes, or, "it just blew up when I hit the starter button." I know this because my wife is an adjuster for a major insurance carrier and she has been called out to examine boat claims regarding things like this. It's much cheaper and easier to pay out a 5k to 20k claim on a blown up boat than it is to hire an inspector, go through the training for your adjusters on what to look for, etc, at least where we live in the middle of the US where we only boat on lakes. I imagine on the coasts the adjusters are more versed in this type of thing where boats are plentiful.

If somebody gets hurt or killed, it won't be $5-20K..... and all bets will be off.

A few years ago there was a blowup at the ramp I use because the guy used an auto alternator or starter, can't remember which, but it blew up with a young kid sitting next to the doghouse.

Believe me, "Joe Blow" the insurance adjuster would be educated at the hearing!!

"Joe Blow Ins" is going to do everything they can do to NOT have to pay (or limit their liability) since it will be the family (or lawyer) of the person that is severely injured or dead doing the investigating. Which can include searching through public forums (just like this one!)

If they (the investigators) find a message where the owner/operator of the boat admitted, IN PRINT, using NON-USCG approved equipment (and was advised against doing it for safety reasons) They will have found "the Smoking Gun" of negligence.

(if you think you're anonymous here, think again...... The owners of this site WILL NOT expose themselves to liability and would release your IP address and other ID info if ordered by a court in a civil case)

If your boat "just blew up" and hurt me or my family, and the "smoking gun" of negligence was found ........ After your insurance paid up to your insurance limits, the "Slip-And-Fall" lawyer I would have hired would be going after any other assets you have. ...............


Don't "shoot me"..... I am just the messenger....


Cheers,


Rick

 

[thumpar]

Why would they automatically pay out $5-20k without paying a couple hundred to look at it? It is not hard to tell the difference. If someone was hurt or killed it would get even worse. If they are not going to look into it why not just leave the garbor plug out of my boat and launch it for the money? I have agreed upon value.

 

[slag]

If somebody gets hurt or killed, it won't be $5-20K..... and all bets will be off.



Believe me, "Joe Blow" the insurance adjuster would be educated at the hearing!!

"Joe Blow Ins" is going to do everything they can do to NOT have to pay ...


Don't "shoot me"..... I am just the messenger....


Cheers,


Rick

I've worked for an insurance company for many years and my wife is an adjuster for over 10 years herself, both different companies, and any reputable organization will not work this way. Investigate, determine fault/liability, and work from there. Fault and the law are two different things unfortunately, but fault is the deciding factor in who pays what and many times it doesn't seem fair.

 

[slag]

Why would they automatically pay out $5-20k without paying a couple hundred to look at it? It is not hard to tell the difference. If someone was hurt or killed it would get even worse. If they are not going to look into it why not just leave the garbor plug out of my boat and launch it for the money? I have agreed upon value.

No one was injured IIRC. My point was she has been called out to investigate boat claims without training or knowing the difference between an alternator on a boat and one on a car. Same is true with many boaters on here. It's not that they are stupid, just uneducated. They are now able to call in outside areas to assist if they feel necessary, but the majority of her claims are usually building/structure related so engineers dealing with structures are the most commonly called specialists.

 

[HT32BSX115]

When it comes to sensors there are usually the same. The Mercruisers actually used an IAC off of the Ford Aerostar van. The TPS I bought (was super clearance priced so why not) looks just like the ones I have replaced on cars and trucks. The thinks you need to watch out for are things that can make a spark. The alternator, starter, distributor, ect. A few years ago there was a blowup at the ramp I use because the guy used an auto alternator or starter, can't remember which, but it blew up with a young kid sitting next to the doghouse.

Every year or so, there's a big fire at a marina in the Seattle area that usually burns up more than a few boats at a time.

Once in a while, someone either gets hurt badly or killed. While SAE J1171 requirements (and the USCG) focus particularly on starters, alternators, ignition and maybe EFI systems, There are other systems that could be required to comply. http://standards.sae.org/j1171_200406/

If anyone is interested, go to the ABYC site and do a little reading.

http://abycinc.org/?page=StandardsIndex

http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/AssetManager/ABYC.1002.01.pdf