I need thoughts and opinions on the msd 6al and the 6al-2. Anyone run one or the other or lean more towards one over the other?

If you want something to last then buy this one way better than msd and ony one wire to hook up.http://www.performancedistributors.com/marinedui.htm

I second that...I run a H/P HEI, far more reliable than MSD(may soon die)

I use the T model. Its fully sealed and vibration mounted. You can hose it down still works. I have had it since 2003 and no issues. I wash motor everytime we bring the boat back to the lift and like I said no issues. Is output is the same as the ALN.

Well for starters you wouldn't want the 6al or 6al-2 beings they are not marine ignitions. You would want the 6m-2 or the 6m-2L which has the rev limiter built in. The circuitry in both is fully potted in polyurethane so they are water and vibration proof. I've had a 6m-2 in my boat for 10 years now with out a single problem. At first I did run a 6al trying to get by cheap. It only lasted a couple months. I opened the box up and a component had broken off the circuit board apparently from vibration.

i agree

The marine MSD ..and you never have a problem.....the only thing i ever had was a bad REV chip ..thats it !

Tried 2 new 6M-2L boxes back in 2008..........both failed. One actually burned and melted. Went back to the older proven 6M-2 and all is well.

I agree with the reliability question. Seen a lot of them fail on short notice over the years.

You have to wonder about reliability when you see race car guys have a complete second MSD system in the car, all wired up and ready to go that they can switch over too, for when the first system fails.

To me, that says everything right there.

If you think all these race teams out there are wiring up two of them because they are junk then why are they even using them in the first place when there are other ignitions out there?