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[Bloomer]

Anyone out there have any ideas on this one. I have a 96 Mercury 225 EFI, on a 21' skeeter. It ran great last weekend, had it out tonight and had no power. It runs fine to start, nothing out of the ordinary, then when you go to punch it, I have no power, it starts to accelerate, then will not go over 2800 RPMs and I can't get going over 8mph, and can't even get close to on plane. There is no smell of gas, no delay in starting, and runs fine at idle and no wake speed. It it not running hot at all, not real sure what the problem is here.

[t-bone]

I had this same issue before and it was old spark plugs. I changed them out and the Mercury ran great.

[Bloomer]

that would be awesome if that was the problem, it has been a couple years since I changed them out.

[t-bone]

I'm getting the feeling that I may have hit the nail on the head! Let us know!

[Code3anglers]

Perhaps a spun prop! With the motor OFF put the shifter in the forward position. Then grab the prob and try to turn it backward. If it moves the prop is spun and needs to be repaired. I had this issue last year and West Marine got me straight.

[Bloomer]

got the new spark plugs last night, went back to the champions, which is what I had on it when I bought it. Got rid of the NGK's, ran beautiful. I cannot believe spark plugs would cause that kind of a problem, I did check the prop as soon as I got back to the ramp that night, eliminated that right away. I was thinking it was the high pressure fuel pump, had to the low pressure pump replaced a couple years ago, just pretty much stunned that something as simple as new plugs could do that. Thank you for the help, much appreciated, That's why I love this web site.

[Lightningboy]

Learned this a few years back.  Nothing runs better in a Merc than plain old copper champions.  Hard to believe what a difference that plug makes compared to others.

But it is nice to know the cheapest ones on the shelf will work best.

[Code3anglers]

A man!

[t-bone]

I'm rarely right (or at least that's what my wife says) - glad it worked out for you!

[Bloomer]

lol, so am I, cheapest fix I've ever had on that boat. Wish every problem was that cheap and easy to fix.

[djkimmel]

I love a happy ending like this! Thanks anglers!

[Waterfoul]

Strange though that my Merc 150 EFI runs better with the NGK's than it did with Champions.

One thing that my mechanic friend stresses as well:  get your fuel at a BUSY station... not the necessarily the cheapest one you can find.  Fuel turn over at busy stations ensures fresh gas in your tank.  I have actually seen this issue over the years.  Gas out in the middle of nowhere may have been in the underground tanks for a while before you got there... just food for thought.