2002 50HP 2 Stroke

I bought a pontoon boat last year with a 2002 50 HP 2 stroke. Ran pretty good last summer, it idled a little slow but that was about it.

this year when i have began to start it, I have to choke the heck out of it and then when i pull throttle down to idle it stalls. I had the marina look at it and they serviced it. New plugs, etc. I started it up last friday with minimal choke and it ran great. My wife and I went down on Sunday to go out and it started fine and then quit..It wouldnt start after that. Im tired of paying the marina for poor work. A friend thinks it is the fuel filter.

thanks
Chris

Do you have an owners manual and what is your starting procedure ?---Post the details of how you start this motor.