2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

[f4ganimal]

I have a 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer with twin 5.0L EFI mercruiser I/O. Starting early in the season, I always had enough power to get on plane easily. Now, I plow through the water longer and sometimes cannot get the boat on plane. The starboard engine will lag at about 2800RPM and the port is much stronger at 3100-3200RPM. I recently had the props worked and changed the gas/water separator. My fuel cosumption has also increased over the season. Any opinions on what is causing the power loss? Fuel, ignition, or something else. I'd apprciate your opinions...

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

Dirty bottom?

Alot of water in the bilge.

 

[f4ganimal]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

Thanks for the reply chiefalan, but there is not a bottom painted on the boat and the bilge is clear of water...I hope my problems turn out to be simple fixes...thanks again

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

You keep the boat in the water?

When was the last full tune up done on the motors?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

but there is not a bottom painted on the boat

Ayuh,.... What the 'ell does that mean,..??

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

Eight year old boat and he gives no info on when tune ups were done or what was done.

For all i know he has a pair of shoes stuck in the freekin risers.

Fl warm salt water eats the metal like crazy

Bad here up north but Fl sheeeet.

Could it be a fuel issue? Maybe?

Could be martians are living in his engine.

Cold up there and snow Bond-o ?

Got a boy scout trip up there next month and i agreed to drive, must be getting mad cow desease to agree to this one.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

Cold up there and snow Bond-o ?

Ayuh,....

Snowing here, Right Now...

 

[f4ganimal]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

OK...as a new guy I am learning how to post...

The boat was last tuned up Sept 06.

The boat is trailered and does not have an anti-fouling bottom painted on the hull (clean gel-coat).

If a full tune-up is what I need...so be it...

I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this power loss as I have yet to find a mechanic that will just do required repairs, so if I can remedy this problem, I'd prefer to do the work myself.

If it sounds like ignition I can change distributors cap, plugs and wires...
If it is fouled injectors...I am not sure I have that expertise.

Did I mention that I smell gas after both motors have been run at max RPMs and the boat did not plane out.

Again, I appreciate any comments...

 

[Windykid]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

Ok the guys need more info from you. Did the temp rise different on both motors. Have you look at the spark plugs. And any thing else you have done.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

Ayuh,...

I don't have a direct link, but Don has a diagnostic chart for boats not being able to plane....
I'm sure he'll be along,+ probably post it...
With what you're saying,...
You need to Diagnose,... Not just throw parts at it, til you hit the right spot...
You have about 10 or so different areas of the driveline that can possibly exibit these symptoms..

 

[ziggy]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

i'm not the pro. but i've saved many links that are good ones, like the link bondo refers to by don can be found in this thread....
check out post #2 of this thread... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=208547

here's another link.... pick your poision....http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=251571
probably #31, confirm proper sm by serial number.... in these books are trouble shooting flow charts. the ones i've looked at for not reaching wot mimic post #2 pretty close.. they are usually helpfull to me..

tune ups are a once a year thing with boats.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

Welcome aboard ,figured with a name like yours wouldn't mind a little ribbing.

Ok not a dirty bottom.

Sounds to me and i'm no expert, that a full tune up and going thru the fuel system is in order.

Would you like for me to describe what i mean bye fuel system?

You have double the pleasure, and i'm sure it wasn't a cheap boat

In fl where you live i bet theres a good tech someone here could recommend.

 

[Boatist]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

If it was my boat I would start by checking the engine with low RPM.
First the prop work they did, what did they do? Could they haved replaced the prop with a higher pitch prop?

When you start that engine and let it idle, does it idle smooth with out missing?

Really if you smell fuel that is the very first thing to fix or you and the boat may be no more.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 2001 Sea Ray Sundancer loss of power to get up on plane

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=283269

Above is the fuels system test.

Your smelling fuel, fix that first.

Might be the reason for all your woes.