Engine Power Loss

[External Medicine]

I hope someone can give me a little help here. I have a 182 Bow Rider powered by a 4.3L mercruiser. I have 320 hours on the motor.

This weekend I started having some serious problems with power loss. While pulling the kids down the lake on a tube I started experiencing momentary power loss. When we hit a wave or heavy chop the motor loses power dropping a couple hundred rpms then coming back up. By the end of the weekend this was happening with even very light rolling chop. I had noticed this happening once last year in severe conditions but it only happened one time so I didn't make much of it.

The motor runs fine otherwise. Starts right up, jumps out of the hole and ran 48 mph at wot with four passengers on board.

What do y'all think? Could it be the fuel pump going out? Loose electrical on fuel pump? Bad fuel filter? I'm at a loss. Any help the group could send my way is greatly appreciated. There is a lot of summer left...

 

[out-n-aboat]

I hope someone can give me a little help here. I have a 182 Bow Rider powered by a 4.3L mercruiser. I have 320 hours on the motor.

This weekend I started having some serious problems with power loss. While pulling the kids down the lake on a tube I started experiencing momentary power loss. When we hit a wave or heavy chop the motor loses power dropping a couple hundred rpms then coming back up. By the end of the weekend this was happening with even very light rolling chop. I had noticed this happening once last year in severe conditions but it only happened one time so I didn't make much of it.

The motor runs fine otherwise. Starts right up, jumps out of the hole and ran 48 mph at wot with four passengers on board.

What do y'all think? Could it be the fuel pump going out? Loose electrical on fuel pump? Bad fuel filter? I'm at a loss. Any help the group could send my way is greatly appreciated. There is a lot of summer left...

I had the same problem today. Let me know what you find out.

 

[External Medicine]

No definitive answer yet. I haven't had an opportunity to dive into it. Number one theory is a loose wire in the wiring harness for the ignition system. Once I get the chance I will be diving under the dash and chasing the wires from front to back looking for a loose connection. My mechanic recommended powering up the boat and running down the electricals with the motor running. That way when I find the area of concern the motor will give me feedback right away.

If I'm not able to find the problem this way I will be taking it to his shop for formal workup.

 

[External Medicine]

Final Update

Climbed under the dash and followed my ignition wires from the key back. About half way back at the area of the remote control there was a problem. Every time I wiggled the wires in this area the engine shut down. I disconnected everything and cleaned the connections. Now all works fine. I figure the connection to the kill switch may have become loose or corroded and it was causing my problems when the wiring harness would vibrate and bounce. Worked great this weekend in really rough water.

All is good again...Of course we destroyed our tube this weekend so next stop the towables website.