Not very used to this design and it seems to be very finicky. I have an early 80's Mariner 30E, or seems to be very similar to a 30A, that I have been having problems adjusting the float and needle. I didnt really have a problem last year, but now i ran the boat twice before opening weekend this weekend and I noticed that sometimes it would run the bowl dry and stall, but not very quickly. So I adjusted the float very slighlty to allow more in, but apparently too much although I didnt think I moved it much at all. So next time I went out it was flooding itself out and gas would come out of the top of the carb. So I took it back apart and and adjusted it to close the needle quicker, but I moved it so little that I wasnt really sure i moved it at all and was thinking that it would still be flooding. Now, it starves for gas very quickly, like gas isnt getting to the bowl at all.

I included a picture of the type of needle and such below. The needle is spring loaded, something im not used to at all. Any info on the correct way to adjust this type of carb would be appreciated.

I had a similar issue and found out the fuel pump diaphram had a hole in it. It would play the starved for fuel to flooding symptoms. Just something to keep in mind.

Had that looked at by my mechanic friend, but hes a family man so he doesn't have a lot of free time to help me out. I will take a look at it again thought