Background: A couple weeks ago I took my Regal 32ft cruiser to the local VP service center to check a problem I noticed while running the engines on the trailer, a not-quite clanking sound, but definitely metal on metal, when outdrives are initially engaged. More noticeable on port, but evident on starboard also. I mention noise is similar to that experienced about a year ago when u joints/linkage corroded due to bellows failure on both outdrives. Couple days later they call and said boat is ready for pickup, no issues found. When I arrive, serv mgr tells me VP tech removed port outdrive to check for bellows issue and everything looked fine. What about the noise? Serv mgr: what noise? Get a hose for the port engine I said. So I start it up, just engage the outdrive and hold it there. VP tech, who has now joined the party, immediately says "wrong, high, or low outdrive fluid". Bring it back and I'll swap out the fluid. He does and noise goes away.

Yesterday, I filled the boat with 90gal for an offshore excursion to Catalina Island from Newport harbor. Those familiar with Newport harbor will know there are several miles from the Back Bay ramps to the breakwater. During the no wake transit in the harbor, there was plenty of time to run the genset and load it up with the A/C, et al. A/C was blowing COLD air. Shut down genset-A/C before we hit the breakwater. Everything workiing fine. Cranked up to about 3200rpms after exiting the harbor for transit to Catalina. Didn't notice it for awhile but it became evident the boat was struggling to get and/or remain on plane. I tried changing engine/tab trim, with little effect. While I was doing this, wife, who was sitting at rear seating area, mentioned "excessive fumes". Shortly thereafter, the cabin monoxide detector lights off, followed shortly by the bilge detector. All engine gauges reading normal. One of our friends on board for the trip is an ex Navy Seal who says it felt to him like the props were fouled. We're a couple miles off Newport, so I shut everything down, everything looks normal in bilge, props look OK. Recycled the batts to reset the detectors and we limp back to Newport harbor. Once we entered the harbor noticed an occasional "shudder" from the stern during the no wake (1000rpm) return to the ramps. No further detector activity.

Drop the boat off at the same VP serv ctr and start explained all this to new serv mgr. He stops me a few seconds into the story and summonded the VP tech to listen so "nothing lost in translation". A good sign for the new serv mgr. Anyway, I explain all this and of course he's aware of the work done a couple weeks ago.

Anyone recognize these symptoms...bad gas?...outdrive misalignment?...???

Perhaps another piece of the puzzle. I had installed Lowrance EP60R flow sensors, along with an LMF400 gauge, prior to this trip. Both sensors tested fine on the trailer. About halfway through the outbound harbor transit the port sensor stopped registering flow. Starboard was working fine. Didn't think much of it at the time, just upset I wouldn't be able to check calibration.

Folks at BOEMarine (where I bought the package) said they've never heard of an EP60R failure which impedes fuel flow, but it is possible since they work on a rotating vane. Might explain the lack of power, fumes (lean?), et al.???