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I had an issue this past summer with my 2008 H200, well really two, revolving around my engine. First, despite how long I might run my boat, I couldn't restart the engine without a good bit of priming. Second, my boat couldn't sit in idle without dying. Has anyone else had issues like those?

We need more information before we can help. What engine do you have, and what drive system, Volvo or Merc?
My old OMC 4.3/4bbl carbed engine has always been a good starter cold or hot. So you shouldn't be having these problems in a boat that new for sure...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Re: cant keep it at idle..

Does it run fine at higher speeds? Does it matter whether you have it in gear or not? When at idle, is it gulping.. ie rev up, then almost off, then rev up again.. and eventually it stalls?

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2008 H180 3.0L Volvo/Penta

Did you get yourself a bad tank of gas?? Might have water in you gas if this is the first time.

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2007 Four Winns H210 SS
1996 16' Lund (fishing boat)
2008 Ford Expedition Max Limited

The engine is a Volvo Penta 4.3 190 HP (V8). The engine runs fine at high speeds, it just sounds like it gets clogged up (I think that is the technical term) when idling. I haven't put any heat into the gas tank, but I have had multiple tanks of gas in there, so any bad gas should've been out a long time ago. I am wondering if it might just as easy as replacing the fuel filter?

Yes, it is just that easy. Filter is the first, easiest and fastest thing you can do. If after new filter it continues, fuel pump then anti-syphon valve in tank.

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08 H190
190hp Merc
Striving to be the man my Beagle thinks I am.

Great. Thanks for the help everyone!

The 4.3 is a V-6, not a V-8, it's actually a 350 block with 2 cylinders removed. I have an original 23 year old one. Do you have a carb or fuel injection? If a carb, it's possible for the low speed idle circuit to get dirty and that could cause the stalling. It could still run OK at higher speeds. You can change the fuel filter first, and then see if that helps. When I change them, I dump out the contents (these fuel filters are big like an oil filter and hold a fair amount of fuel). then I pour the gas into a glass jar and let it sit. If you see a layer of water on the bottom after a while that's your problem, water in the gas. You may have to get the gas tank cleaned out and the carb cleaned and rebuilt. This has been a common problem with E-10 (10% ethanol) gas, it absorbs moisture from the air and then you can get water in the fuel...
The anti siphon valve would be implicated if the engine idles OK but will not pull the weight of the boat and plane it out. Mine had that problem, the carb accelerator pump was working, the ignition was fine but it would idle OK and run to 1500 rpm and then not accelerate any further. Replacing the anti siphon fixed it. You may need to have the carb cleaned and re-assembled with new gaskets. The mechanical fuel pumps on carbed engines rarely if ever fail. Another cause of a bad idle issue is a vaccum leak, sometimes the big gasket under the carb will leak air in and lean out the mixture and that can cause a poor idle quality.
If it's fuel injected, I'm not familiar with marine fuel injection as of yet, but I know that Volvos used 2 fuel pumps on them and one at least was prone to failure, preceded by a whining noise. The pumps are expensive (like $700) so I hope it's not that. Is the boat under warrantee still, if so take it in.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II