I hope someone can help with this... It statred last year the port engine (7.4L 330HP) wouldn't start after sitting for a week or so. when you pump the throttle no fuel. So I spun off the fuel filter and it was real low. I could dump som in the carb to get the motor started and run it at 1700 for a few minutes and it would run fine. I could cut the engine off and restart it the next day even with no problems but a week later the same thing. no fuel in the carb and low fuel in the filter. So I'm thinking siphon or suction back into the tank. I removed the fill line and the vent and made sure they were not clogged and causing a vacum in the tank and sucking the fuel back down, all was ok there. Next was siphon. I checked the lines from the fuel pump to the tank all was clear but the lines were empty so rather than pesky anti siphon valves I installed fuel cut offs at the tank thinking I would cut them off when I was done rumming for the week and it would keep the fuel from returning to the tank.

Now, we ran the boat for the first time this year this weekend. I opened the Valves and tried to crank... Nothing. So I got out the starting fluid and got it started but now every time I would start it I would have to use starter fluid to get it started. Unlike last year when you got it started it was fine the rest of the weekend now there is not enough fuel everytime.

I replaced the Mech. fuel pump last year due to fuel in the site tube. The port is hard to start sometimes as well after it sits for several days but will eventually crank unlike the port. Is it a bad fuel pump or problems with the stock quadrajets? Anyone got any ideas where to start and what to try next?

Fairly common problem with both Carter and Q jet carbs. The fuel in the bowls leaks through and into the intake and evaporates.

That would explaine no fuel in the carb after sitting a few days but not why the fuel in the filter is low when I remove it. And, if it was just the bowls leaking down and evaperating then it wouldn't take long cranking to fill them back up. And you can crank for a long time and it will not reprime and start.