Mercury 250HP CXXL FourStroke Outboard

Stepping up to a 30-inch shaft, the Mercury 250HP CXXL FourStroke is built for a taller transom than a shorter-shaft motor is designed for, running the same V-8 with remote mechanical steering and counter rotation available for twin-engine rigging.

Shaft length drives this choice

At 30 inches, this is the longest shaft in the CXXL naming; mount height matters more here than horsepower, so measure the actual transom before ordering. Getting a long-shaft motor wrong leaves the gearcase either too high or too deep in the water.

Controls, rotation, and running numbers

Remote mechanical steering runs on conventional cables, which suits boats not wired for Mercury's digital shift hardware. Counter rotation availability means this CXXL can serve as one half of a counter-rotating pair if your rigging calls for it. Full-throttle RPM sits between 5200 and 6000. The V-8 displaces 4.6. Weight dry is 527 lbs.

Q: What travels with the motor? An owner's manual, a tool kit, and mounting hardware round out the standard package. A propeller isn't part of the package here.

Q: Is this new? Yes. Power trim and tilt ships standard, as does EFI. Mercury Marine warranties this new engine for 3 years. Transom height, not horsepower, is usually the detail that trips up a first-time outboard swap. Measure before you order rather than after. A spare set of mounting bolts is worth having on hand during any outboard swap. Shaft length tolerances leave little room for guesswork on an outboard swap like this one.