Wasn't able to get normal top speed - advice
 

I can normally get about 52 mph when trimmed to the sweet spot with just me in the boat. I never noticed the RPM's when getting top speed as I was paying attention to speed and trim indicator.

This time I only got up to about 45 to 47 and the RPM's seemed a little high (just based on the sound and when I looked at tach it was running around 5500.

Sound like I either need to clean the speedo intake which would make the speed and the RPM's more in line with my normal top speed.

Or my speedo hub is starting to slip. Last time I spun one I was in the middle of the lake and punched it and it let lose, but when I brough the RPMs down I could idle back to the marina slowly.

Since this hub did not give out all at once I am guessing that this is not the problem.
:confused:

Could the buildup crap from the bottom edge of the motor hanging into the water possibly cause the speed to drop from 52 to 45? This is the only part of the boat that has that and the prop is kinda nasty now. It's hard to clean that on the lift as you aren't supposed to swim at the docks and thats about the ony way to get to the lower unit.

The prop is a ski prop so it probably is a 17 pitch stainless steel.