200 Mariner

[jobu]

Finally got a chance to get out to "Victoria's Seacrate" on Sunday and I changed the plug wires. While doing so I checked the plugs and sure enough the top port plug looked brand new. I also noticed the engine had a stronger fuel smell around it. The funny thing is that the tell tale seems to now be spitting almost perfectly. I am heading to Bill's Outboard this morning to get a gasket set but first I will check the spark and compression. I couldn't find a decent tester at either Sears or Pepboys (I like the one BigShrimpin showed in his post).Also the top starboard plug didn't look to dirty either but did seem to have a reddish color to it. When I ran it out of the water , it seemed to have alot of water coming out of the prop hub...is that normal? If it is the head gaskets I think it's something I can handle myself. But I'm hoping it could be a bad coil or even a plug.
Will post later if I can get anything done on her today.
Joe