MJ, way to go, glad you made it to the water. It sounds like it might be the spark plugs?? It started doing that after I checked the compression with the fuel lines connected. Would run good for 15 minutes and then suddenly foul a plug. I figured my leaving the fuel lines connected while turning it over flooded it out pretty good and caused the fouling plugs. That scenario went on about 3 times, then on the 4 time out it ran good the whole time with a fresh set of plugs (the ones you said were the wrong plugs ). Ran good for 4 hours on that last trip which was 4th of July '05.
I think the problem can be licked, I just don't know why it would still be fouling plugs? Anybody got ideas?
For me, this whole chapter is a good example of why ya have a certified outboard tech check over a used outboard B4 ya buy...it's sure saved my butt B4...