Double oil won't do that. The fact that it runs with starting fluid tells me it's a fuel issue. Possible one or more cylinders is starved for fuel. Those cylinders are also not getting lubrication. Starting fluid makes it run, but does not lubricate.

What does the mechanic say?

You can guess all day but only way to find out is to do some troubleshooting. Start with compression test and spark test. What do the spark plugs look like? Can you throttle up in neutral? Does pumping the primer bulb while it's cutting out help?

Well, the story in a nutshell is..I bought the boat from a guy who had the overhaul done, so it was kind of an as-is deal.. but I called the mechanic..and forgive me if I tear this all up, but he said it could be something like the high speed wind up stator to the power pack or something?? He said theres a high speed and low speed, and that may be it. BUT, i dont think that's the problem.. When I first ran the boat, I noticed the fuel bulb was funny. It wasnt like you'd expect, where it just pumped easy and you could hear it until it got full and tight. It was hard from the very beginning (with no fuel in the lines) and I had to really work at it, and it never really just seemed to be right. There may be some restriction in one of the fuel lines?? I need to pay attention to the bulb next time I have it running and see what it does...

OK....then a fuel line restriction........first go get a replacement bulb and hose(real cheap)......run the boat. If its the same..........replace the anti siphon valve and hose from the gas tank........if the same Take it in to a certified mechanic and tell him what you already did. Could be anything......now you are just changing parts without getting it diagnosed.

Thanks a lot boatman...I'm gonna go grab those new lines and see what they do.. I'll let yall know how that goes.. Thanks for everyone's advice!

First off do not use starting fluid in a 2 stroke engine that takes all the oil off the cyl. walls and will burn those piston rings up fast. Second had the same problem and the diaghram{sp} at the fuel pump had a crack in it and causing ir to get air in with fuel. Real easy fix just buy a good repair manual and do it as stated in book... Willing to give a hand if need be also can help on wiring. Thats just the boat wiring right not engine??? David

Yessir...it's just the boat I need rewired... And how much is the diaphram and included parts with that gonna cost? I'd love to have some help, because I sure don't want to mess anything up. How much would you charge for that?

When the fuel pump is failing, pumping the primer bulb while the engine's failing should pick it back up. Punctured diaphram will usually leak gas somewhere...if it's leaking into the pulse line it'll flood the bottom carb. But then spraying fluid into the carbs would bog it down. Rebuild kit around $10 on www.iboats.com.

Bulb hard to squeeze when empty indicates obstruction downstream of the bulb...most likely culprits sticky outlet valve in the bulb or fitting at the engine - your new fuel line will fix that.

You shouldn't have to spray anything down the carbs to get it started (but if you do, premix in a spray bottle will work)...what's your cold start procedure?

Just FYI, some of those merc stators have separate high-speed and low-speed windings.

Hey jtexas, what exactly did you mean by premix?? And about the coldstart procedure...I'm still figuring that out on this boat. Theres no neutral throttle control.. Right below the throttle lever, theres 2 round buttons. One button is labeled choke and the other is not labeled (wore off) but I tried holding it down while giving it throttle thinking maybe it would keep it in neutral but no luck. The engine is a 1981 (give or take a couple years) Mercury 150hp. Without the starting fluid theres no telling how long it would take to crank.. I probably dont have enough battery juice to figure it out, haha.

Becuase it cranks forever, but when I spray that starting fluid in there, it fires right up. And then after I have it started for a while... I can turn it off, and then back on and it'll fire up on its on.

I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT!! I unhooked the fuel hose going into the engine, and pumped the bulb and flushed that line out, and when I hooked it back up..the bulb was working perfectly and I hear it pumping into the fuel pump, or wherever it goes. Anyways, cranked it and it fired right up! Went out a couple hours later and, fired right up! I guess there was something in that line cloggin up. I need to check in the tank and see if theres any trash in there, cuz the inline fuel filter is fillin up with what looks like a lotta dirty lookin sand and trash. Thanks everyone!!

Well...motor's crankin again and not wantin to start, and when I do get it started, it just don't wanna stay runnin. But the fuel filter is full of fuel this time and the lines are full of fuel. I dont know.. gettin frustrated now..

Well let me start with if you got trash out of the line yesturday and you have been running it before then your filter is plugged and hoping the filter caught everything which I know it did not your carbs need to be tore down and cleaned... Save yourself alot of time a buy a manual for your motor it will help trust me... I see you are in garland email me with a # and we can look at this beast or I will wait till you get so mad at it and sell it to me for $1.00 Just joking but if you keep messing and guessing you are gonna get so mad at it .. LOL

Thanks a lot david.. We took it out to the lake tonight, and it was hard to get started as usual. It's always so hard and cranky at first, so I broke down and used some starting fluid (I know its horrible for it) and got it runnin. After our trials tonight, I think we've concluded that it only bogs down at wide open throttle. It bogged down and died out there and the ONLY way to get it started was the starting fluid. (Those were the only 2 times I had to use it) I ran it slow for about 5 or 10 mins and it ran fine. then about a quarter to half throttle and fine. Same with half throttle then even a little more for a steady period. Then I got between half and close to wide open and it seemed to do fine....It was just to windy so we came on in. When I was loaded on the trailer, I cut the engine off, then started it again to see what would happen, and it fired right up when I barely touched it. I did that about 3 times and fired up in less than a second. This thing is confusing me so much...

might have trash in the carb bowl. if you have metal gas cans check gas cap vent.make sure it open

Gas cap vent?? Where's that? There's a 20 something gallon metal fuel tank in the boat. I guess I need to make sure it's vented well....and I know I can see trash in the filter...So I guess I should see if there's any trash in the tank. Isn't there a sock filter or some kind of filter inside the fuel tank?? And how do I clean out the carb bowl?