Anyone running an aftermarket stand alone engine management on an outboard?

[mogfisher]

A few years back I did a motor swap on my 92 vw to an Audi A4 20 valve turbo. I used a stand alone engine management system which totally allowed me to tune everything from a laptop including timing and fuel map. Just wondering if anyone has run something like this on an outboard? Given the cost of some of the ign parts it seems like it would be a viable alternative to someone that knows how to tune. I'm not really toying with it for my motor, as I don't know if any parts are bad yet, but it looks like if something fails it can get pricey pretty quick and being able to set timing from a laptop while flyin across a lake sounds useful. I know most of us are carbed but you can just do it for spark and leave fuel to the carbs. Any input?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Anyone running an aftermarket stand alone engine management on an outboard?

Marine parts are expensive because they are "marine" -- therefore they are Coast Guard approved and also ignition protected (meaning they don't go BANG in the presence of fuel vapors). They are also expensive because they are produced in far fewer numbers than automotive counterparts. In ECON 101 you might remember that there are economies of scale.

 

[mogfisher]

Re: Anyone running an aftermarket stand alone engine management on an outboard?

Marine parts are expensive because they are "marine" -- therefore they are Coast Guard approved and also ignition protected (meaning they don't go BANG in the presence of fuel vapors). They are also expensive because they are produced in far fewer numbers than automotive counterparts. In ECON 101 you might remember that there are economies of scale.

You know, I never thought of the gas thing. Makes sense. But I can certainly relate to the "economy of scale" after owning a Hummer H1. Since so few were made, aftermarket accessories were insanely expensive. Makes sense. OK. So put price aside, do people get into the custom tuning of an outboard with stand alone systems? I assume in the hardcore race motors they must, but how bout everyday tuners? Its not unusual to find a built import with stand alone. Are they even somewhat common on outboards? With timing being so crucial to these motors I'd think being able to fine tune the timing while underway would be a great advantage. Some modifications would have to be made to the controls though.