Burning Through Distributor Points?

So it seems like I keep taking my Martinique back to the Marina week after week with no resolve to the same problem.

The problem seems to be the the motor is not getting spark.

I bought a new ignition coil and it sparks every time with a spark tester.

So I took it into the marina and they told me that the ignition points were corroded and they filed them down. Boat starts great at ramp. We run around the lake for a while and decide to go swimming. Kill the engine can't get it to fire again, although it turns over and there appears to be no strain on the battery.

So I took it into the Marina again and they told me that I must have burnt through the points and they replaced the points.

So the last time I had the boat out no problems with it starting. Today I took it out and ran it pretty hard. At the end of the day I went to start it to head back to the Marina and the same thing. It would turn over but wouldn't fire.

Has anyone had a similar issue with a distributed ignition system? I am thinking about having a mechanic install an electronic ignition system. Has anyone had this conversion done / recommend doing this?

I bought a 429 Prestolite electronic distributor off ebay for $100. It was brand new w/o box. It is a drop in for a 351RR but you'll have to swap you original gear onto it. Shop around.

all you need to do is replace the capacitor in the distributor next to the points and replace the ballast resistor too one or the other is bad or both and they are cheap and you can do it yourself.

Thanks guys.

Chris, do you know of anywhere around here were I could get parts? I tried NAPA but they didn't have anything in stock. Should I order marine specific parts or are they the same in this case?

Thanks again,
Rob

Thanks Pete. Will do. The kid at Napa definitely responded with, "My computer doesn't tell me what you need."

When my Dad had his Shamrock,it was never in fresh water.He started going thru condencers like crazy.PCM told him to check the distributor ground.Sure enough it was corroded at the base of the distributor and the clamp. Since it was a center console it was hard to see in there so he had overlooked it.Didn't have any trouble after that,so check that too.

Gary S wrote: When my Dad had his Shamrock,it was never in fresh water.He started going thru condencers like crazy.PCM told him to check the distributor ground.Sure enough it was corroded at the base of the distributor and the clamp. Since it was a center console it was hard to see in there so he had overlooked it.Didn't have any trouble after that,so check that too.

Thanks Gary. I'll check the ground as well.

the pertronix is not popular around here....
I have one installed on a car that has a 350 sbc..been runing it for the last 2 years with no issues...

I'm going to try the ballast and capacitor first before spending the money on the electronic ignition. Although at this point of paying the repair bill twice to have the Marina fix the symptom and not the problem it would have been cheaper and easier to replace the entire system from the start. Oh well, hind sight is 20/20 as they say.