[sdemore]

I've been doing a boatload of work (poor pun intended) on the boat and haven't been able to start it since the end of May. Ran into problems with the fuel pump (stuck valves) when I tried to start it and got through all of that. Now it is running great, but when I shift into either forward or reverse, it drags the engine speed way down and no matter how much throttle I apply, it barely gets above idle speed. I tried just putzing around the creek, but can't get above 1 1/2 knots and with current, I worry that I won't get back in. I thought it might be the stuffing box (the nut is loose enough to move with fingers, but I've never been able to get a drop of water to come out), but I can spin the prop shaft easily by hand.

My question is, can growth get thick enough in a few months (Chesapeake Bay) to keep the engine from being able to spin the prop adequately? I thought about tangled rope, but I would expect to feel that spinning the shaft by hand.

Thanks,
Steve