In theory should I be able to just turn the key with out pumping...beings it's old school technology..or a few pumps firat
Not exactly...
old school carbed engines in an auto application used an auto choke and a fast idle system, that allowed the engine to keep running on the choke, it needs like 1500 rpm to keep running when cold. In an auto application this happens automatically but in a marine application an automatic fast idle would be dangerous banging into gear, etc. In a carbed boat you must set the fast idle yourself. So to start an old school carbed boat you:
depending on how your remote control works you dis-engage the shift system, on some you push a button in the center on others you pull the handle towards you (old style OMC)...
Then, pump the throttle 2-3 times, and the last time advance it about 1/4, that will set your fast idle. On mine when I do that it catches right away. Let it warm up at 1200-1500 rpm, after a couple minutes bring it back to slow idle....that's it.
Leaving it at idle in neutral no pumping will not work on any carbed engine, that works only with EFI.