2017 Mercury 20 HP 20ELH Outboard Motor

The 2017 model year of Mercury's 20 HP 20ELH Outboard Motor uses the same 20-inch long shaft, electric start, tiller steering, and manual tilt that Mercury carried into later 20ELH units.

Why the long shaft

A 20-inch shaft on a 20 HP tiller motor like this one fits boats built with more distance between the waterline and the transom top than a short-shaft version of the same engine calls for; running the wrong length affects both handling and cooling at the water intake.

What a tiller motor like this gives up and gains

Keeping steering, throttle, and shifting on the tiller handle means no console wiring to install, at the cost of standing or sitting near the stern rather than a forward helm. Manual tilt means lifting the motor by hand when trailering or beaching rather than flipping a switch.

Model-year shopping

Because Mercury tends to carry a given configuration like this 20ELH across several model years with little mechanical change, a 2017 unit is generally a reasonable way to get the same engine as a newer model year at a different price point, assuming both show similar condition.

Common questions

Does this one have a key-turn starter? Yes, electric start fired right from the tiller handle rather than a pull cord.

What model year is it, and is it under warranty? 2017, and it ships new under Mercury's standard three-year warranty, the same coverage as the following model year.

Specifications