gwizzar....
I have a 2008 mercruiser w/ a 4.3 and I needed to replace my starter / solenoid so I took mine off and went to O Rileys and they gave me an older model blazer starter / solenoid and they only differance is the one I got from them only had two post on it where the one that came on the boat has 3 just like yuors. They told me I could put two of the smaller ends on one post and it would work, well they were wrong. I started the boat with the new starter and I ran for about 3 senconds and cut off. When I went to turn the key I had NOTHING and after hours of troubleshooting and talking to Bond and Don on here I found a hidden fuse that I had blown with the new starter.
I wanted to let you know before you buy the wrong starter from a auto shop. Make sure it has all 3 post.
And I was also told by the marine shop they the marine starters are sealed so if you have a gas leak it won't blow up....
David