2017 Mercury 8 HP 8ELH Outboard Motor

This 2017 Mercury 8ELH (SKU 8ELH-17) takes the long shaft rather than the short-shaft 8EH, pairing it with electric starting and tiller control on an 8 HP twin.

Where this shaft length is used

Long-shaft 8 HP outboards like this one are built for small pontoons, skiffs, and jon boats that sit higher off the water, plus sailboats and bracket-mounted trolling or kicker setups. One hand on the tiller handle manages shifting through forward-neutral-reverse, throttle and its tension, steering, and stopping, while the auto-ratchet system handles tilt angle on its own.

Build and running specs

A pull-start backup sits in the cowl next to the electric starter, which draws off a 76-watt alternator. The gearcase ratio here is 2.08:1. Mercury's factory warranty on this unit runs three years from the date you buy it. Carry a spare cotter pin as cheap insurance against a bent prop shaft.

Q: Can this motor run in saltwater? Yes, Mercury rates it for saltwater use.

Q: Does the tiller handle the shifting too? Yes, forward-neutral-reverse shifting is built into the tiller handle alongside throttle and steering.

Q: What boats is this long shaft meant for? Pontoons, skiffs, and jon hulls riding taller at the stern than short-shaft boats need.

Q: Is a battery required to start it? Yes, the electric starter draws current from the boat's own battery supply.

Browse other Mercury outboards at this horsepower.

Specifications