Background goes like this, ol' GC goes to the river at beginning of summer and within 15 mins. motor in the big boat develops a rattle that makes me shut it down and park it cuz I wanna use this Spectra I bought going on 3 yrs ago now.
I have a buddy rebuild the carb and installs it but now its dark.  The next weekend I try to start and the battery is toast.  A few weeks later I get a new battery, but still won't fire and sounds weak.
A few weeks later I take boat to a mechanic who replaces dizzy cuz its rusted/frozen so no advance which probly explains why it doesn't crank strongly.  New plugs, gas hoses and fixes the wires at the junction box that was always hot when it should not be.
Now I spend two weeks trying to find old school TA's to fit under the new high zoot fenders.  Oh yeah, had the trailer re-fabbed and wired which took another month or so for various reasons.
THEN I have been sick for the last 2 weekends and various other life obstacles keep me from the lake.
So finally tonight at 6:30 I finally get to the lake.  Drop boat in and motor out.  Motor runs like crap.  Surges at low R's, rough in the mid, and pops contiually on top.  GRRRRRRR
I am digging the way the boat handles chop and turns though, it will be a blast when it is right.  One quick lap around Perris and back in to the trailer.  I only have my 10 yr old to help me load the boat so it takes a bit before he holds it straight enough that I can pull out.  I pull up to top of ramp, go to pull the plug (now in the dark) and I can't get the plug out for nuthin' until I have unscrewed it enough that the metal plate falls off into the bilge somewhere.
Oh yeah and while I'm down there I notice . . . one of my brand new bunks apparently is still out floating in the lake, cuz it ain't on the trailer no mo!!!   :banghead    I can't express how defeated I am right now.  I have thought of nothing other than getting this boat up and running this entire summer.   F'n boats . . .

I've been through that vicious chain many of times and I've convinced myself thats all a part of boating.

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement but I'm still pissed.   I did finally get around to pulling the valve covers on the Wriedt and was very surprised to find  .  .  .  nothing wrong.  Totally shocked at how clean everything is.  I assumed this was a mega-hour motor but it was like new under the VC and everything seems to be tight and in place.  Now  really have no idea what all the rattle was about.
With the Spectra, I have calmed down a little and in hindsight (and talking with RiverDad)  I am hoping it is just a vacuum leak and maybe a bad plug wire or two as the plugs were replaced but not the wires.  I was so hoping to make it out to the lake with the family this weekend, so now I guess if I want to see any of "inmates" I'm gonna have to make it in Oct.   I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .