Help!!!!!!! Water in cylinder preventing start

I have a 1985 ski Nautique it was running good for a few weeks and within a day I noticed it started running rough I stopped the motor went inside the camp to grab something and went back out to start and it would not start I tried and tried and tried to start but absolutely nothing it has good spark and it’s getting fuel. I unhooked the water pump and drained the manifold and the motor started up and ran fine so I pulled the boat out of the water and drain the oil and there’s not a lick of water in the oil really confused by thisDo I have an issue with the manifold gasket or is it a cracked water jacket. I have no clue how to diagnose the issue need advice please!!!!

I think you may have correctly diagnosed the problem...water entering a cylinder (or 2) via the exhaust manifold. It may have been just enough to foul the plug, but not enough to seep down past the rings and show up in your oil.
Remove and inspect the spark plugs, I think you will see which are contaminated. Then find the source of the water by removing/disassembling the manifolds. Crack, rot, or broken gasket most likely culprits.

Could it be a small amount of water in the cylinder preventing from starting. And once I drained the water out of the motor and Rrmived water pump that would prevent any more water from leaking in, causing the motor to start?

I am with Joe I don't see how pulling the water pump and draining the exhaust manifold can free up a hydro locked engine?

Well it really struggled to start after draining water. It did eventually start

Long crank Until it starts then once it starts I can shut it off and started again and it starts Right over like it should but when I put it back in the water or hook the hose up and try it it does not start

Seems more like an issue where fuel drips after you shutdown and flood the engine than it does water. If it happens again hold the throttle open when you try to restart - dont pump it just hold it wide open - if it starts then it is a flooding issue.

I just tried starting it and noticed that there was fuel dripping from the rear port in the carburetor do you think that this is my issue and not a leaking gasket

Matthew,
It's looking more like a fuel issue now especially since you can see fuel dripping down the throat of the carb. Does the exhaust smell like the engine is running rich?

Matthew,
Tell us more about the carb you bought. Make, model and how it was set up/adjusted. Is there a fuel filter on the boat?

Mourning wood, what should my plan of attack be when I check for leaking manifold ?

mlegassey wrote: Yes that’s right, when I disconnect raw water and drain the engine down it turns over for 8 sec it so then starts.

I'm a little confused so, just to clear it up, are you saying if you do not drain the engine and disconnect the raw water it will "turn over" (crank) but will not start. But if you do drain, it will start just take a long cranking to start?

Have you tried Joe's suggestion yet?

JoeinNY wrote:    If it happens again hold the throttle open when you try to restart - dont pump it just hold it wide open - if it starts then it is a flooding issue.