Mercury 20HP 20MLH EFI FourStroke Outboard

At 107 lbs, Mercury's 20MLH is lighter than an electric-start 20 HP motor, since it skips the starter motor and battery hardware in favor of a pull-start. It runs the long, 20-inch shaft with tiller steering and electronic fuel injection.

What drives it

A 333 cc, SOHC, two-cylinder block carries this motor to a 5700-6200 RPM full-throttle range. It wears a three-blade aluminum propeller, 9.2 inches in diameter with a 9.1-inch pitch.

Before you order

Pulling a starter rope rather than turning a key keeps weight and wiring down, but there is no electric-start option on this particular unit. Tiller steering puts the controls at the motor rather than a console. Match the 20-inch shaft, the long option here, to your transom height, and plan deck space for the separate 3.2-gallon fuel tank, which connects through a quick-connect line rather than an internal reservoir.

Who it suits

Buyers who want to keep weight and complexity down, and who are comfortable hand-steering from a tiller arm, are well served by this manual-start configuration. It also suits anyone who would rather not depend on a battery to get the motor running, since a pull cord works even if electrical power fails.

Common questions

What's included? The propeller, fuel tank, quick-connect line, tool kit, and owner's manual all ship with the motor.

What's the warranty? Mercury Marine covers it for 3 years.

Can the trim and tilt be adjusted while under way? Trim and tilt here are set by hand rather than from a switch, so adjustments are made at the motor, not remotely.