Weird Events Yesterday

I have a very low usage 89 2001 that I had full servicing done in July....I've filled the tank with non-ethanol fuel at the marina recently but haven't used the boat much in the past month or so until yesterday. During the servicing I had the fuel sender replaced but when I cranked it for the first time yesterday it showed practically empty. I thought this was strange as I know it wasn't this low when I put it up last, but either way, I went to the marina and ended up putting 16gallons in so it was pretty low...the sender eventually began working and showed a full tank..

I went for a short ride...it was running awesome....had some flat water and stretched its legs to 30mph or so for a short length since I had a full tank ( I don't like to run it past 20-35mph often for whatever reason). Cruised 20-30mins down the lake and then went for another short ride back to another cove when I had to slow for a large wake and when I did I thought I heard the motor kind of burp...after I got through the wake I accelerated and then the engine bogged down and choked out. It pretty much cranked back up without much effort and I made a b-line towards the dock not knowing what was going on.

I was able to get 5-600 yards with the engine sounding great and then it gurgled and died out again. This happened 5-6 more times each time getting harder to crank and sometimes I would need to use the choke...sometimes not to crank it.   I didn't have any fuel smell like it was flooded and no gas in the water and when I got to the "no wake zone" area where the dock is and I was idling for 10mins or so I didn't have a bit of trouble and the motor was running great. Even when I turned the boat off to go get the truck and load it...the engine cranked first try when I went to put it on the trailer.

I've reached out to the marina to see if they had any issues with dirty fuel or whatnot, but I'm concerned with this and hesitant to go out without better understanding or taking it in for service. Wondering if I picked up trash in the fuel filter or got some bad fuel??

Any thoughts on a direction I can take is appreciated..

Cam05210 wrote: ( I don't like to run it past 20-35mph often for whatever reason).

heh, Oh, you're one of THOSE guys...

Like Tim sez, begin with the antisyphon valve. And also look over what the monkeys touched when they serviced it.

8122pbrainard wrote: Cam, I noticed you use the term "crank". 8122pbrainard wrote: to avoid future confusion, many do mix up "cranking" the engine with it actually running (starting). Cranking goes back a few years!

Hahaha, Pete - GREAT pic!

Cam - That warning is from an old crank.... so take it seriously!   

8122pbrainard wrote: to avoid future confusion, many do mix up "cranking" the engine with it actually running (starting). Cranking goes back a few years!

Pete even wore long sleeved white shirts as a youngster

Right after that picture was taken the crank got him in the privates

Ken is always on point and if you figured that out in one visit you are a quick study!

baitkiller wrote: [QUOTE=GottaSki] [QUOTE=Cam05210] ( I don't like to run it past 20-35mph often for whatever reason).

heh, Oh, you're one of THOSE guys...

(had some flat water and stretched its legs to 30mph or so for a short length){quote}

Haha.. My guess is you have fouled the plugs and plugged the main jet from dogging that poor boat around the lake like your driving to your own funeral.
30? Damn son, some boys here are still on two barrels at 30!

Wow....friendly members here...geez.. Shaming a guy for being particular about the way he treats his possessions is a welcoming environment. So yes, I am one of THOSE guys and quite proud of it. Some call it a disease,...I call it my OCD life... Don't come to my home b/c you're going to take your shoes off when you walk in the door also...LOL.

Either way....took it out again yesterday to see if it was still occurring and it ran like the first day on the water so whatever it was worked itself out. Sit down for this... because to test it, I had the lake to myself and ran it @ 30mph for about 3-4 whole minutes without a burp....I know...I was anxious doing it the whole time also... HA. Thanks for all the insightful comments...

8122pbrainard wrote: Cam05210 wrote: Wow....friendly members here...geez.. Shaming a guy for being particular about the way he treats his possessions is a welcoming environment. Cam, I feel you're taking John too seriously. Stick around and I feel you will find many here "work each other over" frequently.

what men do in groups for eons , a little poke in jest to see whats there, will he whine or will he join us in an inconsequential laugh together and not take himself too seriously

free hugs and safe spaces, one has to search for that elsewhere.

But after life had kicked you down, one will stand with you, the other wont

Welcome to the site Cam.
Great group of guys with tons of knowledge.......that they willingly give away for free !