Stall at low rpm

I have a 5HP 4-stroke Tohatsu about six years old. I use it on a 22 ft sailboat and in general it has not had much use. It starts easily, at moderate to high throttle positions it runs well. At low throttle positions, say near idle, as when I'm coming in to the slip the engine stalls. If I think it's about to stall I squeeze the syphon bulb and the engine picks up and keeps running. So as I approach the dock I have to keep my hand on the gear shift, the tiller and the siphon! I've inspected the tank filter, the hose, and the siphon bulb. Can't see any obvious cracks in the rubber or dirt in the filter. Should the rubber be replaced anyway? Or might there be another problem, say the fuel pump?

Re: Stall at low rpm

Could be:

fuel pump
fuel line
fuel tank
reeds
carburetor

Best guess, since pumping the bulb keeps it alive...Fuel line, fuel pump, fuel tank.

Re: Stall at low rpm

Tohatsu Guru,

Thanks for suggestions. I'll check carefully the tank, & fuel line first and maybe replace these anyway.

Happy sailor