Mercury 30ELHGA FourStroke Outboard Motor

This used Mercury 30ELHGA FourStroke is a 30 hp inline-3 set up for tiller steering, on a 20-inch shaft with gas-assist trim for lifting the engine by hand at low effort. Finished in Phantom Black, it suits a small boat run from the back of the transom rather than from a console.

Tiller control on a long shaft

Because steering lives on the tiller arm, there is no separate control box to source; throttle and shift are both worked right at the handle. The 20-inch shaft fits a standard transom height, and electric start with a manual backup means a dead battery does not leave you stranded.

Running figures worth knowing

The inline-3 displaces 526 cc and climbs to full throttle somewhere between 5250 and 6250 rpm, at a dry weight of 172 lbs. A 15-amp alternator covers basic electronics, and the built-in warning system flags low oil pressure, over-rev, overheating, and sensor failure as they happen.

Does gas-assist trim need a battery to work? No, it is a manual, spring-assisted lift rather than an electric system.

What fuel tank is standard? A 6.6-gallon remote tank ships with the motor.

Since this is a used tiller motor, its hours and service history are worth asking about first. Coverage here adds up to 5 years, 3 standard and 2 more through Product Protection Gold.