I have an older model 2 cyl. mariner 60 hp with a long record....

First off I apologize for the length but I think the problem lies somewhere in this story. So here is the latest and any input would be welcomed!

3 weeks ago I had problems with the motor getting too hot and suddenly shutting off. Found it wasn't peeing because I had an old piece of impeller stuck in the poppet spring.

Got that out closed it back up and the next week it ran so good it didn't want to shut off...in fact it wouldn't shut off from the main switch. So I took the cover off and pulled the upper spark plug boot to no avail, the motor kept running. So I pulled the lower boot and it died. After some inspecting and trying different things I found my stop wire had become disconnected at the main switch. Got that fixed and that solved that problem. In that process I found two wires disconnected and hooking the white stop switch up to one killed the motor immediately and the other killed it with the switch like it was supposed to.

So thursday my wife and I go crappie fishing and I add 2 gallons of gas to the tank from a portable gas tank, and add 8 fl oz of oil. Get to the lake and the motor cranks idles up in neutral strong like a brand new motor, but when I put it in gear...it boggs down and eventually dies. Busted fishing trip...

Next day I do some checking and find the upper spark plug boot is poorly connected to the ignition coil. Get that fixed and put it in a homemade vat full of water and it runs like a champ. Take it to the lake that afternoon and the same thing happens. Boggs down extremely bad under the load and would barely go. After fishing for a while we decide to move and I thought to try it again. This time it takes off and runs like a champ. Did so for the rest of the day after stopping and starting several times.

I apologize for the long story but it seems like cause could be in the story somewhere.

My thoughts are:

my CDI box is acting up (all grounds are solid)
my ignition coil(s) are acting up
maybe there was some water in that extra 2 gallons of gas I added

Again any help would be great!

I would suspect water in the fuel if you already have reason to think it.
Ignition usually gets bad and then gets worse.