I have 1994 Bryant 180 with a 4.3 Mercruiser. I just bought it in April and have yet to have a successful outting with it. First trip out the water intake hose came off and about melted everything. Two cracked heads, I replaced with reman and felpro gaskets. Next trip engine ran great, found both trim hoses melted and leaking. They were doing fine in the driveway. Oversight on my part, replaced hoses. Third trip out boat ran great. WOT around 5k and sounded good. Choppy water around 48 mph according to the speedo. On the way to the dock running about 35 or so it just peetered out and died. Spun and spun but not start finally I held the throttle wide open while cranking and it fired up. Put it in gear and it struggles. The only way I could start was hold it wide open. The ignition has been "converted" from the Thunderbolt to the Delco EST. I found a used but "good" coil and distributor from a Volvo and installed the ignition module and coil. Engine fires up great now. Just hit the key and she pops right off. But no power under a load. In the water I can give it full throttle and it barely reaches 2k rpm and sounds a bit rough. Pull it out of gear and rev it and its great. What am I missing????
