I did spend about a half hour under the boat this evening examining everthing and did make a small but stupid discovery. The speedo tube that connects to the outdrive was not connected and hanging between the hull and the outdrive. Easy to spot from underneath looking back but not particularly noticable from up top. It also had the plastic end on it. Could this be the mofo that's been causing my hair to turn grey or what...next time out will tell.

Hey Mo, you sure you don't have one of those famous Delaware River floaters hanging off one of your drives

Cal ... I can understand the speed indication with the speedo tube ...but that would not account for different rpms ? I dont think its an issue but as CT stated .... I did have a board hang up on my drives last year and it would not let the drives down and I could not get up on a plane.... Now I know you would see something blocking drives but what about the drive positions ? maybe something keeping drives out of posistion ? I doubt it but just .02 ....

I don't use the speedo pu in the drive but if the tube and plastic end were in the water in front of the drive that may disrupt the water flow just enough to be sucking air down and allowing it to cavitate
Like Cool Trips said , we pick up a lot of stuff in the Delaware and we're used to stopping and reversing to wash of the drive but this was ATTACHED to the boat and no amount of"backwash" would remove it. I can't wait to try again. I'm really excited

Are you referring to the Volksbwagons that are floating down the river ??

No , the bodies

Actually the floaters are not the problem. They are like dodging the crab trap makers on the ChesBay The problem is the "almost" floaters you can't see.

Ouch! Been there done that . Broke a gimble ring and bell housing in '02

Mopower..... YOU ARE SATAN AND ARE TRYING TO GET OSO'ers TO BLOW THEIR MINDS FIGURING OUT THIS PROBLEM!.......

Check Your Compression Again,there Is Now Way That All 8 Cyclinder Are The Same,compare Them To The Other Motor Aswell,then Do A Leak Down Test,running Comression Can Be Differant Than Cranking Compression,if They All Come Up The Same Again,use A Differant Guage,if All Is Good With The Engine,check The Clutch In The Upper Housing In Your Bravo Drive,they Do Wearout!good Luck