2017 Mercury 15 HP 15EH Outboard Motor

Mercury built the 2017 15EH as a short-shaft, tiller-steered outboard rated at 15 HP, with a 15-inch shaft and a four-stroke, carbureted powerhead displacing 351cc, or 21.4 cubic inches. Owners pick this over the long-shaft ELH when their boat's transom calls for the shorter mount, typically a smaller jon boat, skiff, or inflatable.

Fit and controls

Check that your transom actually needs the shorter shaft before ordering, since the two lengths in this lineup are not interchangeable without hurting handling. Steering and shifting both run through the tiller handle, with forward-neutral-reverse built into the grip, and trim and tilt are adjusted by hand rather than through a power system. The carbureted engine draws from an external 6.6-gallon tank connected with a quick-connect line, and full throttle sits in the 5000 to 6000 RPM band.

Durability and coverage

Zinc-coated water passages, sacrificial anodes, and a saltwater rating make this a reasonable fit for coastal use as well as freshwater lakes and rivers. Below the waterline, a 3-blade aluminum prop spins on a 2.15:1 gearcase; above it, the 138-watt alternator keeps the starting battery charged. Mercury's standard coverage on this engine runs three years.

Is the alternator enough to run onboard electronics? It is sized mainly to keep the starting battery charged rather than run heavy accessory loads.

Does this engine use a short or long shaft? Short; confirm your transom height matches before ordering.

Specifications