[RidgeRunner]

I had a pump like that on a airboat. Nice little lift pump, low pressure,not real noisy. The existence of one on a outboard probably indicates there was a problem at some point.
The steel ball is in the check valve either installed onto the pickup, or is built into the pickup tube on most permanent fuel tanks. Portable tanks don't have them. I refer to it as the fuel flow preventer. Not sure if it is ok to remove them, there may be an unforseen consequence but I can't fathom the need on a outboard with a primer ball. Maybe it is more critical with I/O's? They do foul up from time to time.
Primer balls have been known to fail. Just recently I had one fail on the flats boat. It would idle for a while without a problem but as soon as you tried to plane it would start to die. The only way to keep it running was to pump the primer ball. Removed the fuel pump, no problem internally. Tested the motor on the trailer in gear at 2000 RPM but he ball didn't feel right it would never get firm. Nine dollars later the problem was fixed.
I just read you haven't had the boat out in a couple years. You may need to give the entire fuel system a good once over. Pull a fuel sample and see what you have. If you layed it up right you might be ok. Fuel system problems are at an all time high. Hope it helps. Hope the weather improves too..