I have a 1997 Rinker Captiva with a 4.3 Mercruiser. This is my second year with the boat. Last year I believe I had it going around 50 on the water and about 4800 rpm wot. This year, has been headaches. Went to launch it this spring and it refused to start. Ok, bypass oil pressure switch, yep fuel pump is bad, change it out. The boat is still winterized st that point so I prime it a few times, starts up and all is good. I finally got the chance to take it out for a good run on the weekend with the family, and at first it refused to plane. Increase rpm, bow raises but wouldn’t go down no matter what and rom continue to increase, picking up no speed. I limps it back across the lake to pick up a few things and tried again. This time the boat planes! I figured maybe a touch of bad gas or some fogging oil still in there. Went to WOT and she maxed out at 35 and 4200 rpm at most. So I’ve lost seemingly if memory serves, around 10k and 600ish rpm off my top end. Could this be a result of bad gas? The boat has been sitting 7 months through the winter (Canada). Or is it possible the pump I that I replaced the failed one with has a lower gph rating? It dosent seem as though the engine is starving for fuel. No stumbling or stalling etc.
