As far as the alt goes, Since I just replaced my old one 2 years ago, I got the guy on ebay I bought it from (new) to send me a new one under warrantee. That one worked for about 5 minutes on a test run. So that was the end of cheap chinese alternators. Called up Tom Lund who had a spare used one off his big yellow turd boat he picked up this spring. Figured even it was bad it would be worth rebuilding as it was a Mercruiser alternator. but, didn't even need rebuilding so we are good to go!
