[CajunSpike]

Thought the pickup tube may be an issue for a good while. Nearly pulled the tube from the tank. That's why did some testing using a 2nd known good fuel pump. If the pickup tube was bad or failed, a 2nd pump wouldn't pickup fuel after filling tank...but since it did get fuel with the 2nd pump, couldn't be the tube.

I just think more fuel was used than I expected when beating against the wind and waves, so the tank was very close to empty. That's why I got air when I blew in. Fluid level was below the pickup tube. The angle of the boat lean could have sloshed enough gas around so it could be picked up one time, but not another time when it was that low.
The motor did run right for at least a couple hours. I got us out the marina, fought the waves for a good while, and eventually got us 3/4th of the way back to the marina
before we were towed in. Could have burned thru the tank contents I guess. Still learning.