What Do You Think? My 800 80hp late 70's Mercury outboard... STRUGGLING

hello everyone at iboats.. im new to iboats and iv had my boat for only about a year now. i bought a little skiff with a 80hp mercury motor from late 70's. it seems to run good when started up. but it takes me spraying (mix fuel) into the carbs for me to start the motor over.. also i was checking the spark plug boots while it was running and i recived a shock!! WOW!!! haha.. also it starts back up when its warm but when it gets cold again it has a hard time cranking over. theres some smoke coming from the starter wire as well.. a little smoke.. when i look at where the smoke is comming from its the red thick short wire connected to the starter and its slightly burning the rubber around the wire... i thought this was because i was cranking it a hell of alot and it might have got hot.. please help me!!!