Merc 175 sport jet electrical problem

[hyperdrive]

I have a 2000 Sugar Sand Tango

I have a 2000 Sugar Sand Tango 4+2 with a Merc 175 sport jet. My problem is when in the water when I come to idle the engine soon drops to half idle speed then a few seconds later will stall. Also it is hard to start in the water when cold. This does not happen on land hooked to the garden hose. It starts and idles fine on the hose. Also I figured out when it drops to half idle speed the port side of the engine is not firing. At that point its running on 3 cylinders.

I'm a fair back yard mechanic but not with 2 cycle motors. The 2 boat mechanics that have looked at it didn't solve my problem either. Can anyone shed some light on this problem. I don't want to just start buying expensive parts that I don't really need.

 

[galamb]

"Wilson, that definately sound

"Wilson, that definately sounds like a fuel problem.

Is this a carburated or injected model?

If carbs, would suspect some varnish/clogging of low speed (idle) jets.

Injected, I would check gas filters (inline or otherwise) and hope the issue is there - alot cheaper and easier than replacing a clogged injector..."