1st prize goes to: well a few of you!
To clarify, the boat performed well on a short cruise, summer of 2023. On my return to my marina, due to incredible downpours, I spent time cleaning up, packing, stowing and organizing. As previously stated, I thought I would tidy the hoses and wiring in the engine bay. One of the things I did was to re route the breather hose and placed it under the de compression lever. This was a bad move! I believe by having an ever so slight opening with the lever slightly moved, it had created less power, unburnt fuel exiting the exhaust, hard starting etc. Putting it back has stopped the discoulered exhaust, and it starts up right away. How ever this has only slightly changed the challenge of low RPM's under load. There is a lot of barnacle growth on the prop. Apparently many of my fellow marine slip holders have experienced this also and all are saying that 2023/2024 season on the Sassafras has seen much change in the speed of barnacles and bottom growth, despite freshly bottom painted hulls.
So, smack me stupid, thanks for all your input, it's always something, ain't that the truth!