Emergency Boat in Shop 1990 Johnson 150 GT

[Alpinegold]

I took my boat to the shop because it is hard to start, but I can get it started. When initially making a hole shot, it doesn't come out of the hole but if I put it in neutral and rev it up I can wait for the RPMs to come down, shift into forward and it comes out of the hole and soon I'm running 53 to 55 miles per hour. Initially at the shop they thought it was a fuel issue. That was what I was thinking but now they say the timer base is bad. They said it is not passing the tests. Timer base is a very expensive part.

Given the fact that I could eventually start the motor and get it running good could a bad timer base be the issue?

 

[Bosunsmate]

Find out what test it failed and by how much.
check your plugs, look for any that look different in colour to the rest.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Good comment. Also, ask them what the cranking voltage output is on the stator. Should be minimum 200 volts. The cranking voltage output on the timer base is minimum 0.2 volts. Also, check to be sure all the flywheel magnets are glued solidly in place (not loose)