Why Points?

[littletoes]

Ok, nail me if this is a beginner question, I have my first inboard/outboard boat, and it has points for ignition instead of HEI.

Can anyone tell me why boats are so far behind the auto industry???

 

[libellav15]

Re: Why Points?

what year is the boat?

you will probably find a car of the same age had points too

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Why Points?

cause they are cheap and work.
modern stuff does have electronic ign.
a 70 chevelle had points and had to be maintained or replaced every 5000 to 7000 miles.
if you got 70K out of the V8 timing chain ya done good.
anything after abot 120 K and it was pretty much done.
however back then labor was cheap cars were cheap and no one cared.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Why Points?

I think you would hard pressed to find points in any car after 1975.
My boat is a 1990 and has points, go figure. it's a good question.

 

[libellav15]

Re: Why Points?

I think you would hard pressed to find points in any car after 1975.
My boat is a 1990 and has points, go figure. it's a good question.

1990 with points - what engine is that?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Why Points?

1990 with points - what engine is that?

It's also carbureted when was last time you saw a carbutetor on a car, it's a 5.8 Ford motor.

 

[JerryIrons]

Re: Why Points?

If I had to guess,

A set of points going bad will usually telegraph it to the owner, timing off, running not right, etc. A bad electronic ignition will usually just stop, meaning the engine doesn't work at all.

If you were out on the water 3 miles from a dock, which would you prefer?

-Jerry

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Why Points?

if the question is "why do they.....?"

the answer is money

e.g. why do they make the floor out of carpeted plywood that will rot?

 

[sethjon]

Re: Why Points?

Ok, nail me if this is a beginner question, I have my first inboard/outboard boat, and it has points for ignition instead of HEI.

Can anyone tell me why boats are so far behind the auto industry???

Boats are very up on technology if new enough. In this case I don't agree with you. I learned on engines with pts and still like them. Keep them adjusted right, which doesn't take much and they run great.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Why Points?

I think you would hard pressed to find points in any car after 1975.
My boat is a 1990 and has points, go figure. it's a good question.

Its a silly question.

 

[littletoes]

Re: Why Points?



Oh, its a good question all right! You guys just don't know the answer!

The boat in question is an '87 SeaSwirl with a 4.3 L.

I have an '87 Honda, and an '87 K5 Blazer, both HEI. I've worked on points before, even have some tac/dwell meters by Snap-On that look new, but ain't been used in YEARS! Now I have a use!

I haven't seen an auto with points that was manu'd after '76, but I may be off a bit on that date, bet I'm darn close though!

I would GUESS the answer to my question would be that the Coast Guard STANDARDS that boats are based on, are WAY BEHIND. Typical? I'll bet....

 

[Don S]

Re: Why Points?

Oh, its a good question all right! You guys just don't know the answer!

Actually, I kind of wondered why you would even post such a question. No one here knows WHY any manufacturer uses what they do. They ONLY thing you get is specualation on something like that.
Since you have a 4.3L with points, my guess is it's an OMC since they were the only ones using points on any V engine. Merc had Thunderbolt, and Volvo used the BID in that era. Besides, OMC went out of buisness in 98.

I guess the real question is WHY would you buy something with a points distributor if you don't like them, and WHY would you buy anything from a manufacturer that went out of buisness. We could speculate on those two good questions, but only you know the real answers.

I would GUESS the answer to my question would be that the Coast Guard STANDARDS that boats are based on, are WAY BEHIND. Typical? I'll bet....

'You would be VERY wrong with that assumption.
The CG does not specify what type ignition system is requiered on an engine. They just give standards for spark and explosion prevention and safety issues.

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Why Points?

I think it is a good question. Way to welcome in a new guy!

I think most of the automotive advances have been due to emissions control & MPG requirements put on them from uncle Sam.

i don't know for sure but I don't think boats had too many of those requirement in the recent past. I think that is changing as far as emissions control. I think it is accurate to assume that $$ drove the decision not to change anything.

Same thing with is going on with lawn equipment.

I am not an expert but that is my opinion.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Why Points?

This isn't the first time the question was asked, when I first bought my boat I couldn't believe it had breaker points, I asked the same question but got an entirely different more positive response.

 

[Don S]

Re: Why Points?

I think it is accurate to assume that $$ drove the decision not to change anything.

There ya go. You don't know either. Just another opinion. Because you don't KNOW WHY either. That is what I am getting at.

What do you expect. Some engineer from Mercruiser, or OMC to read this and say "OH, I decided to do that because it was better than the other alternatives at the time"

I asked the same question but got an entirely different more positive response.

Let me guess, you also didn't receive a definitive answer as to WHY it had points, did you?

 

[littletoes]

Re: Why Points?

Well doggone,....sounds like none of us know! Then does that mean that its acceptable to switch 'em over to HEI???

I imagine on the newer stuff, its all HEI, but again...I doesn't know.

 

[Don S]

Re: Why Points?

Then does that mean that its acceptable to switch 'em over to HEI???

Now, that is a question that can be answered.
Sure you can replace the distributor from points to electronic, it happens all the time.
You do need to stick with a marine distributor for safety issues and to keep the same advance characteristics. You can change complete distributors, or there are kits to install an electronic module to replace the points.
Will it make your boat faster....... Probably not.
Might make it start easier at the end of a season and easier in the spring because the points aren't worn or glazed over. But don't expect any big HP gains over a new set of points that are adjusted properly with the timing properly set.

Oh, and yes, all the newer engines, from about 94 or 95 on have electronic ignition.

 

[dirtdiver]

Re: Why Points?

I like my points in my 89. Its easy to work on, was a pain at first because all I knew before this was EFI. But they're simple and cheap