Re: what makes a tbi from a truck different then a marine setup?
Okay, so if the part numbers are the same.........
And the Stickers arn't important (They come off the marine versions anyway)
And the USCG regulations dont' even MENTION EFI at all
It's all good then!
Besides, the accident investigators don't have time machines, how could they posibly know if a part was sold as an automotive part or a marine part if it's the exact same part with the exact same part number? once it's installed in the boat, it's imposible to tell the two apart anyway!
As I mentioned before, given the nature of carbs, I think any EFI system (honda, GM, etc) is safter then any carb. Floats fail, and when they do, there is nothing stoping the gas from over-flowing into the intake or the bilge.
There IS no equivilant of a failed float in and EFI system. Both systems can suffer from a failed fitting or fuel line, but nothing in an EFI system would cause fuel to be pumped into the bildge or intake (except MAYBE a failed fuel presure regulator which is MUCH MUCH MUCH less common than a failed float or failed needle and/or seat.
The reason they probably never update the USCG regulation is because there was probably no point. The danger is on the spark side of things. No efi system would ever make a spark anywhere anyway.
The USCG regulations work under the assumption that **** happens, and fuel leaks do occur, so lets make sure that nothing is going to spark that fuel (bare wires, starters, alternators, etc). The facts are:
A) EFI systems don't make sparks that could ignite fuel
B) EFI systems are much less likely to leak fuel into the intake or bildge