2004 Sundancer 300 down on power

[Scout]

Hi all, my 300 Sundancer is all of a sudden is down on power. I used to be able to get it on plane with a boatful of people, fuel and gas while pulling tubes. Top speed was 40. Then suddenly a week ago it felt a little boggy and it really struggles to get on plane, top speed is now 35 with both engines at about 4100 RPM. I don't really care about top speed but it needs all of the HP to get on plane. Both engines perform the same. I had the marina take a look at it and they replaced cap, rotors, plugs, and plug wires and it didn't help. It has the 5L 260 HP motors. Anything else I can try? I'm not very mechanical so I'll probably have the marina do some more troubleshooting, too.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Fuel quality would be my first "check".

Dirty bottom? When was the last time you ran it and how often has it been ran this year?

 

[Ididntdoit]

If the bottom is clean, check fuel pressure and do a compression test

 

[Scout]

Fuel quality would be my first "check".

Dirty bottom? When was the last time you ran it and how often has it been ran this year?

It's been in the water about 4 months (freshwater, new bottom paint), we've been running it quite a bit most weekends. It could be a dirty bottom. The fuel might be bad but it ran well on the first quarter tank or so.

 

[Scout]

If the bottom is clean, check fuel pressure and do a compression test

Thanks, I'll have those things checked out.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Dump your F/W sep's into spaghetti jars and let them sit for an hour.

 

[Motoguy2158]

Hi all, my 300 Sundancer is all of a sudden is down on power. I used to be able to get it on plane with a boatful of people, fuel and gas while pulling tubes. Top speed was 40. Then suddenly a week ago it felt a little boggy and it really struggles to get on plane, top speed is now 35 with both engines at about 4100 RPM. I don't really care about top speed but it needs all of the HP to get on plane. Both engines perform the same. I had the marina take a look at it and they replaced cap, rotors, plugs, and plug wires and it didn't help. It has the 5L 260 HP motors. Anything else I can try? I'm not very mechanical so I'll probably have the marina do some more troubleshooting, too.

How many hours on engines?

 

[Scout]

How many hours on engines?

575

 

[Scout]

Ok, I'm feeling a little dumb. The water is really low this year and the props were clogged with a bunch of weeds. A hard reverse took care of it. 41mph and 4600 RPMs at WOT now. Thanks for the quick responses!

 

[Scott215]

wow

 

[Scout]

wow

Yeah I figured admitting it would open myself up to some passive aggressiveness.

 

[Skybolt]

Yeah I figured admitting it would open myself up to some passive aggressiveness.

Thanks for posting the truthful resolution. Pretty hard to diagnose that without a diver or pulling the boat. Glad it was an easy fix.

 

[techmitch]

Yeah I figured admitting it would open myself up to some passive aggressiveness.

X2 thanks on posting your resolution. The root cause was important, but the experience in finding it, is invaluable.