horrible experience with mercury outboard - advice needed!

Hi Everyone:

One of my coworkers just purchased a new boat setup from some dealer in
Shawano WI and they've had nothing but heartache and misery with the thing.
I don't know all of the horrible details but, in short, the first time they
went to pickup (a 4 hour drive from their residence near Madison WI) the
boat the dealer indicated that it had been "lost" (they couldn't find it in
their inventory). By the next weekend the boat had been "found" and they
brought it back to their residence (another 4 hour drive approx.). They
took it out that Wednesday night to test everything out and break in the
outboard per the manufacturer's (Mercury) specifications/instructions and by
the time they got out on the lake the Mercury motor quit. All of the alarms
started sounding; they were basically stranded. They were able to get the
motor started at short intervals and after some time made it back to shore.
My coworkers husband argued with the dealer in Shawano in an attempt to get
a brand new outboard but failed. All they were willing to do was replace
the power head which was finally agreed upon by both parties. Forward to
last weekend when they took the boat out again for the 2nd trial run.
Unfortunately the outboard did nearly the same thing as the first time.
Started making horrible noises, stopped running/would 't start, alarms going
crazy, etc. Well, they're not quite sure where to turn. All told, it's
been about a 2 month fiasco and they're ready to give up.

Sorry for the lack of details, bet I figured you guys might have some advice
for someone in their situation and wondered if you might post your ideas so
that I can relay the information to them.

Thanks.

J.P.