Low Engine RPM's

I assume the observation that you are not reaching WOT is based on something other than the tach?

All of the symptoms point at the engine not getting fuel. That could be caused by a laundry list of issues including a control lever slipped, a fuel filter almost blocked, governor issues ...

One important thing that was missed and will help with troubleshooting - does it reach full rpm in neutral?

Both of those items will lead to black smoke unless there is a charge air pressure compensation feature on the governor. If so that is easily tested. Considering the OP clearly stated "there is no smoke coming out of the exhaust" it is fairly safe to say that charge air conditions may be placed far down the list of potential problems.

That leaves fuel starvation as the most likely scenario. Either the engine is not getting the memo about how much fuel to deliver or it is not getting the fuel that is called for.

If the engine reaches and can maintain high idle in neutral it is most likely a fuel filter issue.

What rpm will the starboard engine turn at idle? Will it go higher than 1700rpm?

If you're reaching full RPM in neutral I'd see if the prop were fowled or the shaft bound.

There is quite a difference between neutral full rpm and full load rpm in amount of fuel required to achieve each level, If the prop were fouled or shaft bound there would be no shortage of fuel and therefore one would expect a wee bit of puff, the earlier statement that the revs fluctuate ( hunt ) by 200 rpm is also an indication of fuel starvation.

Agreed, but more info is needed, such as what happens when he brings her up in neutral. Also, I didn't get a clear statement about whether that 200 rpm fluctuation is when he's running manual or on sync. We had the same fluctuation, and I changed Racors twice before it dawned on me that the boss almost always ran synced. When I checked I found it was a problem with the sync (not yet resolved).
While we're waiting for the OP to come back, and since it may be relative if it turns out that he's got two separate things going on, any thoughts on what would cause that with the sync?

Loose wire , dirty connections or chips on the speed sensor if its of the screwed into the flywheel housing type

Thanks guys. I've never done diddly with an auto-sync, in fact rarely use them (prefer my ears). So today I learned something new. Another good day.

Assuming a Glendenning, it could be the flex shaft in the tach cable drive adapter. Past experience with an 892 it would wear down and tach stops working properly and then the synchronizer doesn't know what is going on. I think they use the same/similar configuration.

Give that person bagpipes to blow.

Only if it is downstream of the lift pump. It won't tell you squat about what is going on in the delivery side. Vacuum gauges are for monitoring filter condition or tank valve status and that is all they are useful for.

And a great deal of smoke if the fuel metering and delivery is functioning normally.

No one said the rpm indication was "skipping" it was described as "slightly fluctuating between 1500-17oo RPM" which lacking further clarification normally means a smooth increase and decrease between those points. This is what can be expected if there is a fuel starvation issue.