Agree with you Echelon, most all thing I have had issues with I was able to find solutions on the site. I have never had to take mine to a mechanic yet.
I tried the non ethanol route, very hard to find a good source in my area, the issue I had was the gas I got was crap and low octane, boat ran like crap and the engine knocked so bad I thought it was a rod knocking.
I only use premium fuel (high octane) and I am using Ethanol blended with no issues at this time.
Nothernlatty:
When I first got my boat I had some similar issues that I can attribute to the previous owner not keeping up basic maintenance; hard to start, sometime would die, rough idle, missing, not getting to full RPM, sluggish...all of this was 100% remedied by performing these basic maintenance items.
Some other areas to pay special attention to to keep them running in top form:
1. Clean the MAF Sensor
EVERY year, very easy to do, takes about 10 minutes. You can pick up a can of MAF cleaner from any local auto parts store.
1.1 Clean Flame Arrestor EVERY year with throttle body cleaner from local auto parts store
1.2 Clean Trottle Body EVERY year with throttle body cleaner from local auto parts store
http://www.epicmarine.com/forum4/index.php?topic=1199.152. Keep spark plugs in good condition, suggest to change these every few years for top performance, use
GOOD plugs. If you don't know for sure when the last time was these were changed I suggest that you change them.
http://www.epicmarine.com/docs/Spark%20Plugs.pdf3. Use a fuel stabilizer each year when winterizing and top off the tank...fuel will settle over time and a non full tank will collect water condensation faster. This will can make them run bad until all the old fuel is run out...you mentioned that the boat was sitting for a long period of time, may be best to have the tank emptied.
http://www.epicmarine.com/docs/Epic%20Winterizing%20Procedure.pdf4. Check / Replace the fuel filter...removes any water and debris from fuel line, do this at the same time tank is cleaned out.
http://www.epicmarine.com/docs/Fuel%20Filter.pdf 5. If running sluggish or slow check that both fuel pumps are running. Search forum for "fuel pump".
http://www.epicmarine.com/docs/Troubleshooting%20Guide.pdfhttp://www.epicmarine.com/docs/Fuel_System_Guide.pdf
All of these are basic maintenance items that any DIY can handle.
http://www.epicmarine.com/docs/Maintenance%20Guide.pdf