Water cooled voltage regulater

[jillyfish]

I have a 86 with a 170 I/O. The voltage gauge would show 16 volts intermittently. Now shows 16 all the time. If I turn on the bilge and well pumps it goes down to 15. The regulator is water cooled. I have been told the reg is about $500 if I can find it. A conversion kit was recommended. Has anybody run into the same problem?

[THEFERMANATOR]

Fairly common issue, and yes the conversion kit to an actual alternator is the reccomended route to take.

[spareparts]

If the rest of teh system is in good shape(and I emphasize good shape) then you may want to look at the replacement regulator offered by rapair/cdi electronics, it actually turns off the feed voltage when its charged enough, rather than run the excess to ground like the mercury one did.

http://cdielectronics.com/Portals/0/Catalog/Mercury%20Voltage%20Regulators.pdf