lacking power

[blueraven]

I've got a 86 Mariner 200hp outboard. The motor idles fine and appears to run smooth, however at take off it doesn't accelerate like it did last summer and only tops out at 30mph,last year it normally topped out at around 50-55mph. I aquired this 86 19' Chaparral w/200 Mariner though an abandoned deal and have no history on it. Does this sound like a fuel problem? There is an inline fuel filter that's been changed, is there others?

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: lacking power

Sure it could be fuel related. <br />Seems boat motor carbs plug up pretty easily. <br /><br />Go over the simple stuff first like changing and checking spark plugs.<br /><br />Look for loose of disconnected wiring.<br /><br />Try bumping the choke (or a squeeze on the bulb)while accelerating it may try to take off on the bad cylinder(s) while loading up the good one(s).<br /><br />Could also be ignition related. There are tests that allow you to eliminate things like the stator and such.<br /><br />If it were me I would do a compression check while cecking/changing plugs then remove the carbs and make sure all the jetting and all were up to par. Then I'd start looking towards the parts that could get expensive. <br /><br />But that's me and my labor costs me right next to nothing.