Something similar happened to mine . My motor has been running fine for the last 3 yrs , no problems at all . I wasn't paying attention to the warnings of ethanol gas and one day out of the blue it too started spitting and spudderin . I got pulled in and didn't know what I could check so I started asking around and googling trouble shooting for my motor and everyone said right off the bat it was the ethenol gas was causing my problems . So I went and bought new hoses because that's where my trouble was . The gas was eating the hoses up and clogging up my hoses .If you catch it in time it won't get into your carberators . And I also bought a new water seperator . Well changed all that out with new ethenol free gas and crossed my fingers and fired her up . That was 2 months ago and haven't had any problems with it since . That may not be your problem but it sounds a lot like mine did . Hope this helps ... Good luck !!
I payed $150 to Addis Marine to do a carb kit on my 9.9hp mariner because I don't have those skills, and let me tell you that sucker runs like a top. Very much worth the money. If you are mechanically inclined you might be able to do it. I got the engine cheap so it was worth it. I would also try that sea-foam too. I'm not an outboard mechanic, but I did it to my ONAN generator and it worked great.
'John Wayne', it appears you may not have heard of the problems ethanol gas can cause marine engines, ESPECIALLY older models. If you are not aware of my website, give it a read. I list over 900 ethanol FREE gas stations, grocery and convenience stores i all Louisiana's 64 Parishes, plus everything you ever wanted to know, but may have been afraid to ask about ethanol gasoline. The website is:
PeteLandrysRealGas.com
'Pete' Landry
Website Owner
Can't help you with a mechanic, but I recently had the same problem. Have you tried getting new gas, and spraying everything down with Sea Foam. Marine Formula Sta-Bil and Sea Foam are a must have these days with the gas we get. Fill your fuel line with sea foam and start it up with the cowling off. Spray the hell out of your carborater while running. Crank up and do it again. Also recomend taking your plugs out and cleaning them. Spray sea foam in your engine block while plugs are out. Hope it helps.