Mercury cavitation

[kid's inheritance]

The 30 hp Mercury on the tender has occasionally gone into limp home mode, always when we are miles from the mother boat! Oil level is ok, water cooling seems ok but the red light warning of inadequate flow is lit and alarm sounds. Switch off and on again , it runs fine.
Usually can't replicate but , over the weekend , we noticed the alarm started on hard turns , never in a straight line. Is cavitation causing a brief inadequate flow and then limp home cuts in ? Or other thoughts?
TIA
Rob

 

[Spi D]

Ventilation, often mistaken for cavitation, occurs when air is drawn into he propeller. This can happen under several circumstances, but ofcourse running the engine high on the transom or otherwise close to the surface will increase the risc.

The running height, commonly referred to as X-dimension, should be so that the plate above the prop follows the keel line. Although not commonly an issue with tenders, do the simple check: