Well, beautiful day in chicago yesterday. However, not a good boating day.

Wrecked my bravo 1 4 blade as well as took a chunk out of my lower unit the first hour of the day. Put on the 23 3 blade that had been labbed. Spins alittle fast.

Boated all morning about 3 hrs, no major problems however just before lunch, coming off plane and idling to the docks, we noticed a strong odor of fuel. After lunch and a few drinks, the boat did not want to start. 94 baja 272 with 502 EFI. All stock with no modifications. This boat always starts right up when you turn the key. I had to crank the engine for about 20 seconds while playing with the throttle then it finally started. Knowing that the engine was loaded up I expected the puff's of smoke. However while untying from the doc, I could just tell the boat sound was not normal.

Stong odor of fuel noticed as well as fuel in the water looks like it is coming out of the rt side exhaust pipe, but may be both?? When I first crack the throttle, large puff of smoke from exhaust, not just the normal steam either. Don't know if I cooked the motor or burned a valve by running the smaller prop on such a hot day, engine did not overheat, however I did run the engine at about 5300 rpm for about a minute before catching myself. The 4 blade spun at 4900 wot. I was also told by a boat behind me that the engine sounded like it was burning water??? Head gasket, or manifold issues, but the fuel odor and fuel out the exhaust the big problem. Any clues on why all of the unburned fuel??

Can't help you with your problems, but, I am surprised you turned 5300 RPM's without hitting the rev limiter?

don't even know if the boat has a rev limiter???

Bought it used about 4 years ago....up to this point it has been trouble free!!!

First check the condition of the oil. ( You didn't mention if you checked ) If you suspect engine damage, my suggestion to you would be to run a leak down test. If there is any problems in the cylinders or heads, it will tell you right away.

Had this same set of symptoms not long ago, and it turned ut to be a blown head gasket. Hope not for your sake.

If you have raw fuel coming out of the right exhaust pipe it's your vst tank. (vapor seperation tank) The float inside is probably stuck, when this happens it dumps the raw fuel into the number 8 cylinder.

Merc makes a rebuild kit for them.

If you have a VST tank, then I think rons hit it. I have had a similar problem with mine, although not to your extreme. If you have a VST, just pull the plug off of the top and if it's all the way full of fuel, then your flote is sticking. I have also read on hear that if the diaphram in the VST is bad it can do the same thing. It might not be a bad idea to do a leak down test. Hopefully you don't have a blown head gasket, but that could be it also.
Good luck!

baha272,
if the problem is your vst tank I have a complete vst system that was removed when I installed my Procharger that I will make you a great deal on!