Mercury 115 series differences??

[100333624]

Hi quick question for ya'll.. I'm looking at purchasing a Mercury 115 and there are a few for sale locally. I can't seem to find much online when I try searching for the differences between the saltwater/bluewater/offshore series.. I am considering a 1997 Merc 115 that reads OFFSHORE on the cowl with blue/white colors on it. I know that some read BLUEWATER and others SALTWATER. What is the difference between these motors? And what is the difference between these vs the regular (red stickered) ones? Thanks in advance!

Also if it helps, the motor I'm interested in reads EXLPTO on the manufactures sticker plate, but the shaft looks just like any other LONGSHAFT model to me (it doesn't have that 5" extension on the midsection) so how can I be certain that the owner didn't just change the cowl to an OFFSHORE series one, and how can I be sure that it is an XL shaft? I mean if it says its an XL and it's a longshaft then what should I be looking out for?

I've included a pic of the motor I'm looking at...

Nick

 

[100333624]

Re: Mercury 115 series differences??

Just wanna update ya'll with what I found, so according to NADA this motor should weigh 368lbs if it is an EXLPTO.. However, the manufacturers sticker says it weighs 348lbs, which is the weight of an ELPTO, yet on the same sticker it says its an EXLTPO. How is this even possible? Did NADA mess something up or could Mercury have messed up a sticker?? I'm so confused here I hope someone can clear this all up for me! Can the serial number provide us with more information??

 

[roscoe]

Re: Mercury 115 series differences??

You need to measure. See the 2 red lines in the diagram below.

Top of transom bracket to the anti ventilation plate.

15"=short shaft
20" = long
25" = XLong

 

[limitout]

Re: Mercury 115 series differences??

roscoe is right and don't trust what nada says, go to mercury marine website and get the actual "correct" specs for the motor.

if you have concerns then ask in person and watch and see how he responds, if he gives you that deer in the headlights look then just walk away.

it might be a frankenstien motor put together from two or more motors, outboard shops are famous for doing this then rebuilding the power heads to sell as a refurbished motor. it doesn't mean that's a bad thing it just requires a little more trust in the guy you buy it from. I have seen where the mounting brackets were swapped out to add power trims from blown motors to ones that are broken or without trim or stuff like that to create working engines to sell from salvaged motors. but doing that swaps out the tags as well so they can create a motor they own and can sell from one that might be stolen or they don't have ownership of.

unless you really cant afford not to, I think I would walk away if things continue to not add up with this motor

 

[100333624]

Re: Mercury 115 series differences??

Ok so I spoke with the owner and he said its 20" longshaft and that he picked this motor up in the States while he was there. He bought it from a dealer and its been sitting in his garage for 2 years he hasn't even put it on a boat, but he sold the boat and has no use for the motor now. So if the DEALER swapped out the mid section for a longshaft mid, I guess they just changed the housing for the shaft and not the actual mid section itself (with the transom assembly) since it still has the original EXLPTO print on the sticker, we can assume it is an actual EXLPTO offshore motor, with a longshaft housing on the mid section. Maybe I can verify the serial on the powerhead to the one on sticker to make sure the powerhead hasn't been swapped?

No one has yet to answer my question about what the difference is between offshore/bluewater/saltwater series mercs!!!!

ANYONE???

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Mercury 115 series differences??

Depending upon the year, it may not have a different midsection. The engine may have come equipped with a 5 inch extension on the midleg. If that were the case, all that would be necessary would be to remove the 5 inch extension and water tube addition, and replace the long studs with regular length ones----easy-peasy. Then, you simply bolt on a lower unit with a long shaft (20) drive shaft--if it is a one piece drive shaft. If it was a two piece with a coupler, you would use the same lower unit with a long (20) upper driveshaft replacing the extra long (25) one.

But really, you would get a much better and more accurate answer on the Mercury forum.