First time out and had to be towed in...

We picked up our 2000 Super Sport about 6-7 weeks ago but between the weather and work we hadn't been able to actually get the boat onto the water until this weekend. Tried one weekend before only to drive an hour and have it just click because of the battery

Anyways, for the first 90 minutes we were just cruising around and getting used to the boat. Nothing out of the ordinary, and everything was working fine. I decided to do a set with my wife driving and everything seemed fine while I was going for 20-30 minutes. Got out and she gets ready to do her set. I start it up and as I accelerate it she falls, but as I'm heading back to circle I notice a bit of a hiccup/hesitation. As I push the handle a bit more it just stalls. Start it back up, seems fine. Get back to my wife and get ready to start her pull and as soon as I accelerate it hiccups and stalls. Now I'm getting a bit nervous, so I tell her we'll just call it a day and head back. Get all back in and it gets up going fine and at around 15 mph it starts the hiccup again and then stalls. Start it up and as soon as I try to start going it stalls. I putz around checking the fluids again (I checked before we left), cleaning the water filter (some seaweed) and generally trying to figure out what could be wrong. We finally just flag someone down and they tow us back, we load up and head home. I haven't had any time to really start looking into it, but I'm a bit stumped.

It idles fine, without any issue, and had a full tank of gas which I put in a few weeks ago. The one thing that really worries me honestly is the fact that I cannot spin the prop by hand out of the water. This is my first Nautique and inboard, my family's always had I/Os, but I'd assume the prop should spin somewhat freely I'm going to give the guys we bought it from a call, but just haven't had the time yet. Any ideas or suggestions on where to start?

Chris,
Welcome! Hope we can help you out.

Your boat is a V drive and they can be a real PITA to align plus I know there are sometimes issues with the V drive gearbox itself. How inclined are you to do this yourself? Take a look at the alignment thread alignment by Eric and get back to us. This thread is for a straight drive but it will give you the basic idea.

Regarding the engine, get a new fuel filter/water separator cartridge on it and see what happens.

To me it sounds like two separate and unrelated issues. I would bet that it was out of alignment before you went out and you only noticed because you were checking around because of the engine issue.

I know nothing about v-drives, but the engines are the same. I think the other guys have given a good place to start.

My biggest question is:
How the heck to you buy a new boat and not use it for 6-7 weeks?!!!!

You have more patience than me, my friend.

Regardless, you have come to the right place.

Welcome.