I've been fixing up my father's boat it's a 1989 Skeeter SD 125. I have replaced the fuel lines in the engine, cleaned the carbs, rebuilt the fuel pump but I had a little problem with it this past weekend. I had the engine running really well in a one gallon tank as I was decarbing it. I hooked it up to the tank that is in the boat which I had pumped all the existing gas out of it last summer till it was clean gas coming out the pump. I got the boat on the water, let the engine warm up, went out past the no wake zone and it took off like it was a rocket. I couldn't believe I finally fixed the problems with the motor etc and was proud of myself. Well after running it to my fishing spot I pulled into the area and idled it down. During idle the engine was going to high rpms then back firing out the exhaust. I babied it the rest of the day back to the landing. I got the boat home and pulled the carbs off and found a powdery residue. I checked the fuel filter as well and it had a sludge in it. My neighbor who has worked on his boat a good bit told me that he thinks the fuel tank is where the powdery residue is coming from. He said the tank is probably gone bad needing replaced because of ethanol gas. Everything I have researched says ethanol doesn't destroy a plastic tank. I didn't replace the hose going to the tank and I believe that is where the problem lies and the tank is probably dirty. I'm looking for a little insight on what my problem may be. I'm going to attach pics of the carbs to the post.
