WOW! I think I feel a bit stupid, but that feeling is slightly tempered by the fact that it took an engineer friend of me to "solve" my previously posted problem with low forward rpm. Here it is for all those out there who also didn't have the answer (it was staring me in the face!). The clue was that I was testing RPM at the dock...: Answer... IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY!!!! Without going into the masters level engineering solution I got from my friend, a boat secured at the dock will have a "loss" of max forward RPM of between 10-15% due to slipstream effect over the prop. DUH!! Had I given it a bit more thought I'd have (I think) figured it out myself. Tried it yesterday, and at max throttle throw I was able to get 3400 RPM away from the dock. For the 2GMF that is right at the max continuous (1 hr) limit. Problem solved. Maybe confessing my stupidity here will prevent someone else from spending big $$ for a mechanic he doesn't need! Smooth Sailing (and motoring!). Tim L. (S/V "TIDE")
