Mercury 15HP 15ELH EFI Outboard

Electric start and a 20-inch long shaft set the Mercury 15HP 15ELH EFI Outboard apart from the short-shaft electric-start versions of this 15 HP engine, and it steers from a tiller handle rather than remote controls. Complete, it weighs 114 pounds.

Matching shaft length to your transom

Long shafts like this 20-inch one are built for boats with a taller transom than Mercury's short-shaft 15 HP models call for; mounting a long-shaft motor on a low transom buries the anti-cavitation plate too deep, while the reverse leaves the prop breaking the surface and losing bite. Measure first rather than assuming.

Running it from the tiller

Throttle, gear shift, and steering all live in the tiller handle at the back of the motor, which suits boats where the operator sits near the transom rather than at a forward console. Turning a key at the handle starts this fuel-injected engine rather than pulling a cord.

A note on break-in

Like most new four-stroke outboards, this engine benefits from a gentle break-in period before it is run hard, letting internal components seat properly; check the owner's manual that ships with the motor for Mercury's specific guidance rather than relying on habits from an older two-stroke.

Common questions

Will the 20-inch shaft fit a short-shaft mount? No; this long-shaft engine needs a taller transom than Mercury's short-shaft 15 HP models, so confirm your measurement first.

Is this electric or manual start? Electric start, fired from the tiller handle rather than a pull cord.