[badbob]

Hi, I am new to Boating. I bought a 1986 Tracker with a 2-stroke Mariner 40hp about six months ago. The boat is like brand new. Problem: I have had on a few occassions trouble with idling ( keeps dying) and problems with after say running a mile or so up the lake when I slow down in the 5mph zone it will not run? Yesterday we ran a mile or so from the back of the lake went in a river channel that is 5mph we starting having trouble (again) and decided to fish a bit . Afterward we started the engine got out of the 5mph zone at when we started go at speed it would barely run, I did not think we were going to be able to make it back...lol.
Any ideas this is really starting to take the fun out of going......I was thinking of changing the plugs (which I have done when we first got the boat) I thought about changing the primer bulb (which we have done when we got it)
I was thing of changing the fuel line plug in "thing" and the fuel filter ...any other ideas? I would really appreciate any help you can give.......
All the best, Bob

[thefairlaneman]

When was the carb cleaned/rebuilt? Sounds like a gunked up dirty/sticking float sorta thing.If you would have pumped the primer bulb while it was running and this would give a sudden increase in speed the fuel pump may be weak.