I have a mild 454 (i know how original) and im trying to decide between the Holley mechanical fuel pump thats on the boat and the Holley marine blue elctric ful pump on my workbench. any input?

Does the mechanical pump work?  Just remember  K.I.S.S.   

The electric fuel pump makes it real easy to get the left over fuel out of your boat so you can put it in your truck. Undo one hose and turn on the key and your done.

For Gen4 get the Clay Smith mechanical. It is the most solid and reliable pump out there for 300-1300HP.

http://www.claysmithcams.com/index.asp?Category=254&PageAction=VIEWCATS

That is what i would run if I had a gen4. I have to run an electric pump due to the fact I am runnin a Mark5 block. Stay away from Holley electric pumps. If you are dead set on runnin an electric pump go with an areomotive .

Just one person's opinion.  Holley has been around for a long time in the fuel supply business.  I've never had a problem with their fuel pumps... Now their carbs, that's a different story.

been running the holley blue for a long time, never a problem

Same here! Even when it is completly submerged in water , Twice! Still works flawlessly.

nothing but prob's with the blue pump
switched to the clay smith mech and never looked back

probably like everything else, occasionally you get a lemon in a batch of parts

Ya got that right.  I even once got a Holley carb that no matter what I did there was always a vacuum leak and come to find out, there was a small void in the casting of the body that was sucking air.  I've been leery of Holley carbs ever since.  Just one of those things I guess.

If nothing else Holley did a great job at paving the way for all the great aftermarket carbs.  I'm runnin a Holley Black electric fuel pump with a Mallory by-pass regulator, works great.  And thought they claim 7 psi I've tired many red pumps that barely put out 5.5, dont waste you money on those unless you got a quadrajet or weber.  There are far better pumps out there but be prepared to pay.  I would however use a mechanical fuel pump when ever I could get away with it .02 -Josh

My holley blue has no problem keeping up 7 psi to two holley 750's. I have a fuel pressure gauge on the fuel rail , and it never moves off 7 psi while the key is on. I must have lucked out and got a good one.

I was talking red, no one brought it up yet so I throught it into the mix, I've had good luck with blues also.

If nothing else Holley did a great job at paving the way for all the great aftermarket carbs.  I'm runnin a Holley Black electric fuel pump with a Mallory by-pass regulator, works great.  And thought they claim 7 psi I've tired many red pumps that barely put out 5.5, dont waste you money on those unless you got a quadrajet or weber.  There are far better pumps out there but be prepared to pay.  I would however use a mechanical fuel pump when ever I could get away with it .02 -Josh

Josh,  What determines when you can or can not get away with a mechanical fuel pump?  I'd love to use one but since this boat has/had an electric on it I just figured there was a reason for it.  It would be one less electrical problem waiting to happen.  Gas and sparks don't get along very well together.   Greg

Josh,  What determines when you can or can not get away with a mechanical fuel pump?  I'd love to use one but since this boat has/had an electric on it I just figured there was a reason for it.  It would be one less electrical problem waiting to happen.  Gas and sparks don't get along very well together.   Greg

If you got a fuel pump eccentric and a boss to mount it, go for it (or in chevys case a pushrod).  On my ford, when it was first put together I couldnt install an eccentric properly because of the geardrive, then when i rebuilt it the two piece eccentric i had didn't fit the billet upper gear of the timing chain set either.  Guess it was never ment to be.
Also Gen 5 and some Gen 6 Chevys dont have a Mounting boss to help out the cooling around that cylinder so an electric is a must.

BTW Greg I can garrentee you that your boat came with a mechanical pump from Miller, most likey a Harman Engine.

Well, I just ordered the Clay Smith and now have a Holley Blue fuel pump to put on something else or sell.  Just one more thing I have changed on this mix-mash of handy work.

I'm (for now) going to run a holly blue, my regulator has 1 inlet line and 2 out lines , my existing fuel line from the carb just has 1 inlet (then split to both bowls) . So my question is can I just block off the other outlet off the regulator or do I need to buy a different regulator?

According to the instructions I received you just plug one of the outlets off.