Mercury 225L FourStroke DTS Outboard Motor

This used Mercury 225L FourStroke DTS Outboard Motor runs the 225 hp V6 on the shortest shaft in the family, 20 inches, with Digital Throttle and Shift controls for a digital-ready console.

Powerhead

209 cubic inches, 3.4 liters, 64 degrees between the banks: that is this V6's footprint, with 24 valves on dual overhead cams and a 3.6 by 3.4 inch bore and stroke. Lower-unit gearing comes in at 1.85:1, housed in a 4.8 inch gearcase.

Rigging

DTS controls are sold separately, so your helm needs to already be set up for Digital Throttle and Shift; electric start runs through SmartStart Protection, and you can step the steering up to hydraulic assist, add power steering, or fit joystick piloting beyond the base rig. This one comes in at 475 lbs dry. At 20 inches, this is shorter than the taller shaft options sold in the same engine line, so measure your transom before ordering rather than assuming any 225 V6 in the lineup will fit.

A 20 inch shaft with DTS controls suits a lower-transom boat whose helm is already wired digitally; if your console still runs cables, look at the Mechanical version of this same 225L instead rather than adding a DTS harness.

Used V6 outboards in this size range are worth asking the seller about compression numbers and lower-unit oil condition, since those two checks tell you more about remaining service life than hour count alone.

What shaft length is this? 20 inches, the shortest in this V6 family.