I have a 17 foot carloina skiff with a 50 horse yamaha and it is slow but it didn't use to be. any suggestions

Question

we have had it for about 6 months and when we got it t ran fine and went around 35 mph. now it ownt go any faster than about 20. there is a plug in the motor that sits under the oil resorvoir that is not plugged in. i plug it in anda buzzer sounds and then if i give it gas it shakes and kicks alot. any ideas would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Sounds like your oil injection has issues>>Best take it to the dealer before you hurt the engine>

Answer 2

I will almost bet that the boat has sit outside in the rain without a cover. If so then the foam in the bottom of the boat is water logged, this makes the boat about 700lbs heavier then it use to be.

Also the plug that you mentioned is likely a warning indicator that someone has disconnected because or a wiring problem.

I would also suggest making sure the fuel oil mixture is correct and a good tune up.

Answer 3

You don't really clarify whether or not you leave the boat in salt water or not, but that would be the obvious answer.

Also, Randy couldn't be more wrong, Carolina skiffs are open-gunneled, foam-free boats. So we know you don't have 'soaked foam'.

As you say it has a oil resevoir, I'll gather that you have a 2-stroke motor; are you using it as a tiller motor, or is it hooked to a wiring harness on your console? Do you have an oil-pressure gauge?  What kind of RPM are you getting at WOT, or are you not even able to throttle it up?

Oil injection has always been a finicky thing; many older OMC owners disconnected it and simply mixed the gas. You need to pay close attention to the level in the resevoir and make sure it is using oil.

If you aren't able to throttle it up, but it idles fine, you may have trash in the high-speed circuit in your carburetor. Take it to a mechanic and have it cleaned; it will cost you $60-$70.

Answer 4

Change the oil, get a tune up

Answer 5

Make sure that you have gas in each carburetor.  You could have a stuck part that lets the gas in.  On the side of each carburetor you will see a s***w.  Turn it counter clock wise like your taking it out.  Just a little, and gas should drip out.  Then you know gas in the carb.  Don't take the s***w out or it will fall and then you will loose it.  Check each carburetor for gas..  If one has no gas you have to take it apart and clean it.  You can do it with just a few tools and a few hours.  Also make sure you don't forget to use gas stabilizer or this will happen every year!