2018 Mercury 15 Hp 15ELHPT-PK-CT Outboard Motor

At a dry 132 lb, Mercury's 2018 15ELHPT-PK-CT ProKicker pairs a 20-inch shaft with electric start and power tilt, built for trolling and auxiliary power rather than top-end speed. A 4-blade, high-thrust aluminum propeller and a heavy-duty transom bracket set it apart from Mercury's standard-duty 15 HP tiller motors, which typically carry a lighter 3-blade prop and a simpler mount.

What makes it a kicker motor

The high-thrust propeller trades top speed for better bite at low RPM, which is what a trolling or auxiliary motor needs when it is pushing a larger boat slowly rather than planing a small one. The power tilt system moves the motor through a range from 6 degrees down to 75 degrees up, useful for clearing shallow water or trailering without manual effort at the stern.

What to check before buying

Confirm your mounting bracket and transom can handle the heavy-duty bracket this motor ships with, since it is built for the extra stress of kicker-style use rather than a light tiller mount. It runs on the same carbureted, 351cc (21.4 cubic inch) powerhead as other 15 HP models in this lineup, and Mercury backs it with a three-year warranty.

Is this meant to be a boat's main motor? It can be, but the high-thrust prop and ProKicker design are built around trolling and auxiliary use.

Does the tilt need to be adjusted by hand? No, tilt is power-operated on this model.

Specifications