Congrats on getting the engine to fire & your perservance! What do you mean by it sounding "terrible"? As an FYI, the right needle setting for a boat engine IS when you have to keep blipping the engine to keep it running (and there should be a delay between pulling the trigger and the time when the engine responds). If it revs right up when you pull the trigger, you are too lean, and when you throw it in it'll just die after running a short distance (anywhere from 20ft to 2 laps). I'm guessing from your statements that you have a new boat and are just getting to break it in? If so, a "rich" engine is where you want to be for the first 5-10 tanks - then you can focus on leaning it out 1/8 turn in at a time (and start shortening your pipe). Also during break in, run your boat 1/2 throttle and then full throttle in short bursts to "heat cycle" the engine and get a good piston to sleeve fit. It was suggested to me to run the straights at 1/2 throttle, and then full throttle around the corners. You wont REALLY see what the boat is capable of til 1) you've run many tanks thru it (mine took @20 tanks or @ 1 gal to loosen up to where I could start it w/the plug tightened down and turn the engine over by hand w/the plug in); 2) get the pipe short enough so that it second stages (you'll KNOW when you get there ) and you "find your needle".