What is my Mercury actually?

[James_Ketcham]

Although this should be a simple question if you have a serial number and / or a model number but... every site i go to that asks me for my serial number says that doesn't exist.. so here is what i have... the Hood on it shows it as a 9.9 Mercury ( with no other labels... here is a picture of the serial/model # tag. the Tag kinda confuses me since if you look at it, it says verified by Evinrude Motors. Now on the side of the powerhead, the model number is embossed and matches the tag.. I was looking for Carb parts and this Carb is Stamped as a WMB-1 which is listed as a 9.8HP... Sooo I'm not clear to what it is exactly but would like to know a exact answer so when i hunt for parts I can say AHA! that is what I need. Any help would be appreciated. thank you.

 

[jimmbo]

Show a picture of this Hood that says Mercury. also show a pic of the entire motor

 

[MTboatguy]

I agree, need a picture of the engine cowl and the engine block also.

 

[tpenfield]

The model number ( 115983E) from the name plate maps to a 1969 Evinrude 115 hp

Yes, a few pictures of the whole engine would be good. Maybe even take the cowling off for a few pics.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Me thinks the motor is hot with a serial number tag swap

 

[tpenfield]

Me thinks the motor is hot with a serial number tag swap

Yes, could be hot, but maybe with the cowl off it will cool down

Maybe it is a Frankenmotor :noidea:

 

[James_Ketcham]

here's the pics...

 

[flyingscott]

Your motor is a repainted 9.8 hp with 9.9 decals. Probably from the 80s but no newer than 85

 

[James_Ketcham]

Here is an update. after the comments of it being Hot, I contacted the state police this morning and they just were here to look at it. They told me that tag is not the one from this engine and then they took it to be investigated. Not exactly how i wanted my first boat experience to be but I'd rather they take it and know for sure if it is really stolen or not then to be out boating and have me get arrested for it later. At least they did not take my boat too. I have legal transfer of it.

 

[tpenfield]

If it turns out to be not stolen, would you be getting it back?

 

[James_Ketcham]

If it turns out to be not stolen, would you be getting it back?

well that was my question to them. They said that without the valid serial number it will be hard to discover if it is stolen or not, but because it has a replaced tag on it, it would be considered as stolen and therefore I would not get it back in any event. Makes me sick really. my Boat also had a 28 HP Johnson on it and they looked at it and it has a valid tag and does not show as stolen so that is a good thing i guess. I was currently working on it to get it running when all this happened. Johnson is a 1962 model and both coils tested as bad sooo got some work to do yet. Summer is rushing by pretty quick and just makes me sick that this happened. :facepalm:

 

[Scott Danforth]

Factory 7.5 and 9.8 tags are held in with drive screws, not pop rivets

Hence the thought its hot.

 

[GA_Boater]

I bet the next visit the SP made was with the guy you bought the boat it from.

Sorry this happened to you.

 

[James_Ketcham]

I bet the next visit the SP made was with the guy you bought the boat it from.

Sorry this happened to you.

They won't get much information from him. He was my Boss and friend for almost 11 years. He had this boat with the engines on it since before i knew him... He died 3 years ago to spinal cancer and I bought the boat from his son who inherited it from him.

 

[MTboatguy]

That is to bad, sorry to hear that.

:grumpy:

 

[tpenfield]

Are boat motors titled in your state? I am just wondering how the police will ever be able to ID your engine as a stolen engine?

What would have happened if you had not contacted the police?

 

[GA_Boater]

If the Merc has a welch plug with the serial number, it can be traced using that number - If the motor was reported as stolen.

Not calling the police - probably nothing as long there was never a question.

 

[James_Ketcham]

Are boat motors titled in your state? I am just wondering how the police will ever be able to ID your engine as a stolen engine?

What would have happened if you had not contacted the police?

I am not too sure on the titles. this is my first time owning a boat and I am very much unknowledgeable to this whole new world. as far as if i did not call them, I probably could have just kept it and used it until my conscience got the better part of me or until i got stopped by the game commission for any reason and they checked the boat over. personally I'd rather sleep at night and not worry about the latter effect. Just is not worth court costs, attorney fees and a criminal record for something like this. I still have the 28 HP Johnson and they checked that number out. ordering new coils, points, and condensers on pay day. So i'll be down for a few days or a week, but i'll have the boat back in water soon.

 

[James_Ketcham]

Well Good news for me at least.. Police contacted me about this engine. They said they ran the engine serial number and it comes up with no stolen reports. They said that could be because someone sold it or bought it and never recorded the serial numbers and then it was stolen or the part that has the wrong tag on it could have been a stolen part but they cannot find anything legit or record of this being stolen soooooo. I got the engine back. well after they process it what that means, but sometime this week i'll get the 9.8 back. it is a 1984 9.8 according to them. They said the serial number is still on the engine itself something about a welch or welsh plug? I dunno but at least i'm not out the engine. YAY!