I have a 2005 Johnson 150 Bombardier on my 2005 Four Winns 180 Horizon. I bought the boat in September of 2014 and for all intents an purposes absolutely love it.

I am having one lingering problem that one repair service has not been able to fix and one has cited a user error. Trying to canvas some further opinions.

Here's the deal. I can go to the dock and start it after a week-2 week layoff and it starts just fine. Yesterday is a great example of the problem, started perfectly and we're off. We tubed and skied for a good 2 hours and then anchored at a sandbar to swim, have a drink and visit. We were there for about 45 minutes and then the boat struggles to start. I try a time or two and then institute cold start procedures, then the motor appears to be flooded. The check engine light goes on and I'll wrestle with it for 15 minutes and then when it reluctantly starts I'll run it for 10 minutes usually wide open and the check engine light goes off and then it returns to its great self and I'll have no problems...until I decide to sit at the sandbar again.

Any thoughts? Should a cold start need to be instituted after such a short time? Am I doing something foolish?!

Thanks for any feedback.