[willy]

I know what you are going thru, I went thru it with a Merc Black Max that cost me hundreds and hundreds of dollars to keep running for two years. When it ran it was sweet, but I spent many a day playing around with it on the water to try to get back and sweating when the next time it was going to let me down. It was a motor with less than 300 hrs on it too.
Sh!t happens.
If you think you can fix it after talking with these guys go for it. Cheapest way to go and you will be more knowledgable when sh!t happens again.
If not do what we said above and find a good low hour motor. If you can afford new your chances of being out all day with zero problems for years to come are much improved. if I had the money that is what I would do first.
If you talk with guys who are very serious fisherman and have the nice boats etc. you will find they buy a new engine and 6 months to a year before the warranty runs out they sell it or trade it in and put another new on it. That by far is the best way to go but you need to have the money up front to do it.