Boating How-To’s - Any experience with Delco alternators ?

Anyone out there have real world exp. with a hi output (160+amp) delco alternator ? My Balmar 160 amp unit crapped out and I am debating either rebuilding or replacing my 10+ year old unit . Either option is expensive ,up to $800+ for a new one. A delco with supposedly the same output or more is 1/3 the price. My rebuild guy says the ones on ebay are junk and cites the small size and poor quality of the delco as proof of a short life. Anyone try the delco unit long term ? Thanks

My experience says that any alternator putting out over 150 amps needs to be specifically designed to do so.There are kits that allow the amps to be raised, but the basic design of the alternator will not allow for enough heat dissipation to live long.The 12 si series Delco (the 10si is the small unit and NOT recommended)is a proven design and widely used in the one wire configuration, but getting 165 amps out of one for long isn't happening.The nice thing about going with a Delco is that you can have one on board for a backup and still be 1/3 less the cost of a Balmar. Now,if you are not maxing out the output of your alternator for long periods of time,the Delco will work fine because the heat will not be an issue.

But the delco