Mercury 15MLH FourStroke Outboard Motor

This used Mercury 15MLH FourStroke Outboard Motor is a manual-start, tiller-steered 15 HP engine with a 20-inch shaft, and Mercury lists its 99-pound dry weight as the lightest in its category.

Condition

This motor is sold used, so expect wear consistent with prior service rather than a new-in-box unit. It carries a 2.15:1 gearcase ratio and a CARB star rating of three, which were part of its original factory specification rather than anything specific to the wear on this particular used unit.

Running it

Tiller steering keeps throttle and forward-neutral-reverse shifting in the handle, and this 20-inch shaft needs more transom height underneath it than Mercury's short-shaft 15 HP engines use. A standard 3.2-gallon remote fuel tank comes with it rather than requiring a separate purchase, and the trim system is manual rather than power-assisted.

Buying a used outboard like this one

A used four-stroke like this is worth starting and running at the dock before you rely on it on the water, checking that it idles smoothly, shifts cleanly through forward, neutral, and reverse, and shows steady water flow from the cooling system's tell-tale once warmed up.

Coverage on a used motor

Even sold used, coverage here stacks Mercury's regular three-year factory warranty with an extra two-year Product Protection Gold plan, reaching five years total from the start date.

What color is it? Phantom Black, Mercury's standard finish for this engine.

What fuel does it need? Fuel-wise, Mercury calls for 87 octane gasoline, tolerating up to 10 percent ethanol blends.