Outboard running rough suggestions

[ultralite09]

I have a buddy that just got a boat for free, it runs fine in the drive way and idles perfectly fine as well but as soon as we throttle up to get on plane, it will get on plane and then the motor chokes out.

The boat was used regularly but then sat for over a year.
To me, I've experienced this with an old boat and turned out to be due to the ethanol separating the fuel and water. What do yall think?

What options do we have as far taking care of the situation? The tank is not reachable without having to cut into the deck so really thinking about trying an additive to help remedy the gas. It is about 15 gallons of gas, and not sure if we would be able to siphon it out the way the boat sits.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Put a heavy application of SeaFoam in the tank. Best stuff for outboards I've ever seen.

[BowSlayer]

Put a heavy application of SeaFoam in the tank. Best stuff for outboards I've ever seen.

What he said^^^^^

[ultralite09]

I'm working but he's taking it out right now, called and told him to go ahead and dump 2 cans of seafoam in.

I run a can every tank in my boat and it runs great, just didn't know if it would help in this situation Not knowing how bad the separation is.

[lars]

This ^^ and then change the plugs.

[highspeed]

You need to get that gas out. Seafoam is really good stuff, but it can only do so much. Plus you will eliminate a step along the way by putting new gas in and seafoam with it. I'd also change out the fuel hose because if your motor runs fine on the hose, but loses umph when you put it on a load, then your motor might be sucking air.

[AgHntr10]

Swap the gas lines & change all filters. Had the exact issue and it was the caused by ethanol crystallizing in the gas lines then breaking and stopping of the lines and filters. At idle you are fine but with the load you won't get enough fuel to the engine.

[deerplanter]

When it starts doing this have someone pump up the bulb and see if it helps it run, if so you have air getting into the line and most likely a bad o-ring in one of the connections.

[SharpStix]

What deerplanter said.... may be starved for fuel. Was out two weeks ago with my dad and were experiencing similar symptoms, dad kept blaming it on old fuel but it turned out to be a loose fuel line.

[SharpStix]

..... in our case, it was a line that was held in place by a vacuum, the boat hadn't been run in a while and lost it's vacuum and wasn't getting enough fuel to the carbs.

[darralld]

Carb motor or injection? Would really help to know.

[SharpStix]

Carb motor or injection? Would really help to know.

I said carbs in my post earlier, but it was actually a fuel injected suzuki, sorry for the confusion...

[knighttime]

My bet is a pin hole leak in your fuel line, and quite possibly the bulb.

[Limbwalker]

I had a similar issue. After a few cans of sea foam, I broke down and pulled the fuel tank (not easy since it was built in) and drained it, replaced the fuel filter, pulled the carbs and disassembled them, pulled the jets and cleaned them, and put in all new fuel plus marine sta-bil.

Next time out, it ran like a champ. Problem solved.

[darralld]

I said carbs in my post earlier, but it was actually a fuel injected suzuki, sorry for the confusion...

Ok first take the fuel filter off and empty it into a glass jar & see if it has anything floating in it. If the ethanol has messed up the lines there will be stuff in the filter. Should be a big one that unscrews under the cowling. This will also tell you if the gas has any water in it. Fuel injectors could be gummed up as well. Would siphon all the gas out and add new. Good idea to replace the fuel line, bulb & plugs.