Engine wont run right! plz HELP

My boat (a 1989 bayliner capri) has a ford 2.3 liter inline 4 (engine came with boat). At the begening of the summer i installed electrocic ignition in it. Its worked fine all summer. Last time we went to the lake we were crusing along at about 4k rpm when the rpm's plummited and the engine died. I got it to start again, but if i leave it at idle it dies. I can take it up to about 1k rpm, after which it dies. So i can go from about 700-900 rpm. When it dies it lets out backfires and whatnot. anybody know what the problem could be? Maybe timing?

I'm not sure what ignition system your engine has, but the Ford TFI ignition system has a trouble prone module. The TFI module screws onto the side of the distributor and fails freqently due to excessive heat. If your ignition is TFI, chances are the module is the problem.