Wiley:
Let me ask you this: At any time, while offshore, did you happen to be running the kicker in reverse, and backing down with the main engine shut off? You did say you usually keep your motor running, "but not this time as we were trying to talk over two outboards". If so, it might be possible that water was forced up into the power head. This happened to a friend of mine, years ago, while anchored from the stern in the Merrimack River. (A dumb thing to do, I know) When he went to start the motor, all you could hear was a "click". He pulled the plugs and turned the motor over a few times to see water spurting out from the cylinders. Believe it or not, after reinstalling the plugs that motor started. It was an Evinrude 4 cyl. two stroke.
Yat