Mercury 40HP EPT FourStroke Outboard

The new Mercury 40HP EPT FourStroke Outboard is the short-shaft member of this engine family, built on a 15-inch shaft for lower transoms, with remote mechanical steering and power trim and tilt rather than a tiller.

Why the shorter shaft matters

This shaft is five inches shorter than the long-shaft 40HP ELPT, which matters because an outboard mounted too deep runs with the anti-cavitation plate buried, and one mounted too shallow can ventilate and lose bite in rough water; matching shaft length to transom height is the first thing to check before buying rather than after. The engine itself is Mercury's familiar 45.6 cubic-inch inline-three four-stroke, spinning up to a full-throttle band of 5500 to 6000 rpm on electronic fuel injection, with power trim and tilt standard and remote steering and shift in place of a tiller handle.

Weight and what is included

Dry weight is 204 pounds, unchanged from the long-shaft ELPT since only the shaft length differs between the two, and both share the same remote-steering layout rather than a tiller. In the box, Mercury packs mounting hardware, a basic tool kit, and the owner's manual, with the connector needed to join a fuel line to the tank; the propeller itself ships on its own and should be matched to your boat. This motor is covered by Mercury Marine's three-year warranty, running from the date of purchase.