Aren't you the same guy that was looking for forklift engine info once here on CCF? 

At least this time you're asking about an engine hanging off the back of a boat.

You're not on vacation in Mexico trying to fix an outboard ski boat are ya?  

Click on the link below that'll get you some parts diagrams etc

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/johnson-evinrude-parts.php?year=1961" rel="nofollow - link

I'd say it's vacuum operated.

I do remember we had to pump the lines full of fuel every time we changed the gas tank or the boat would not start.   The old rubber hand pump ball in the fuel line by the tank.   

If they do not pop on ether you are missing one of the basics.  Air, Compression, Fuel, Spark, .  Ether is very easy to ignite.   2 stroke engines pull fuel in past Reed Valves?   Maybe they are stuck closed?   This engine is more than one cylinder if you intend to ski behind it so it is odd that no cylinders would be getting fuel, compression or spark?  Sounds like nothing is getting pulled past your carburetor for all cylinders to be dead at once.   Curious what you find in this engine.

Maybe you just need to paint Ski Nautique on the sides and it will fire up?

It is a two cylinder.  We had four guys riding a few weeks ago and it went 26 according to my pone app.  Much speedier than my uncles boat that we used to ski behind.  That of course was 45 years ago and 100 lbs ago!

I also noticed the porta potty and the backup porta potty in the picture.

Our '61 40 HP had the key switch module that attached to the side of the motor with a thumb screw.  That failed at some point, kept it from starting.  If you have spark I can't see how that could be the problem, but might be worth taking that connector off and pull starting a few times, manual choke on, to see if you can get any fuel going.

Another more likely guess is you might find a vacuum hose under the cowl that is rotted and leaking.

David--pull start?  Not when there is electric start!  No module on this one that I know of.  If you happen to be driving through Nebraska soon throw your 40 hp in and drop it off so we can both ski the Chetak.

I used to have to pull start our 40 at times.  A hard pull, but could do it even in my mid teens.  There were times when either there were battery problems or electric choke issues and I'd disconnect the cable and pull it, usually could start it easier than cranking and flooding it with the key.

It was on a Thompson 16' lapstrake, we would drag and drag to get up.  Later I had it on a 14' Mirrocraft aluminum, that light little boat would get up and go with the 40, was really fun.

Towing can certainly be done safely as long as speed is not inolved.   

I carry a cotton rope for towing.   It was a simple ski rope that snapped and hurt my brother.

We have seen pro skiers pull on the rope so hard that when they lose it you sometimes see the handle pop all the way back into the boat.   One observer I knew of had his front teeth knocked out because of this.   Some boats used protective nets behind the driver to avoid this.   A towed boat can be more drag than a skier and ropes can snap.

Lesson learned the hard way.