The flap on top is the choke. It should be closed partially when the engine
is cold but once it warms up it should be open. Since you indicate that it
was open then this is probably not the problem.
Chances are the float stuck w/ the needle open and allowed the fuel to
overflow the bowl and up into the throat of the carb.
Usually vibration will unstick it. Chances are when you took the flame
arrestor off you bumped it enough to unstick the float and it started
working.
Once it sets for a week it may stick again.
I would have the carb rebuilt/cleaned before continue to use to ensure a
safe situation.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
"Melandre" wrote in message
...
Thanks for your quick help.

Is the choke the little flappy thing (obviously don't know the proper
term) on top of the carb? When I stopped the boat and removed the
flame arrestor, I noticed that the "flap" was wide open (this is how I
could see the gas bubbling inside). Again, I know very little about
this stuff but isn't this flap supposed to be closed when the car/boat
is not running???? Is it always open when the boat is running? This
may have been the stuck part maybe (which I probably loosen back by
simply touching it)???

Andre
PS: Sure thing about having it looked over by someone knowledgeable
(this excludes me!). I don't want to go boating in fear all summer...




On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 01:30:41 GMT, "tony thomas"
wrote:

A stuck carb float or choke would be my guess. This will cause the carb
to
run rich and flood. May or may not ever happen again.
I would remove the carb and tear it down and clean good. If you can't do
yourself have it rebuilt as a safety precaution.