2003 mercury 50 hp 2 stroke

by duane
(columbus ohio)

went out on the boat yesterday and everything was running fine. about 30 minutes into cruising WOT it just shut off. turned key would not start. I put the throttle in neutral and throttled it and it started right up but every time i tried to put throttle back down and then into gear it would stop. I eventually did it quick enough to keep it running and took off. It ran fine and it did it again. Again i got it started and ran half throttle and got closer to the dock so i gave it full throttle again and it took awhile but it did it again. turning the key wont make it start and run i have to put it in neutral, lift the throttle as if starting it cold and hopefully catch it fast enough to get it in gear and go. It feels like you pulled the kill switch it doesn't spit and stutter like its running out of fuel, it just dies.