I have a 1988 skeeter bass boat and the title says that it is a 50 horse mercury motor but I can’t find the tags to find model number or serial number on it. It seems to be taken off, is there another way to identify the motor?
On some engines there is an aluminum tag about the size of a quarter embedded in the left (Port) side of the engine block. Easy to see as everything is black on the block but this silver tag. Is the engine a 4 cylinder 2 stroker? If so, it will be in the range of 40-50 HP.
Best I can do is a '94 sales brochure showing 50 and 60 hp engines being 3 cyls with 51.8 cu. in Loop Charged powerhead, 5k to 5.5k WOT rpm range, 16 amp stator, 1.64:1 gearbox, 10" wheel, 207#.....going to guess this design originated back in mid 80's time frame, maybe earlier. Prior to that the 4 cyl had moved up from original cross flow Mark 55 40 hp to 50 and back to 45 and then 40 don't know the time line on all that but the 3 cyl was Mercs new lost foam Loop design and covered the mid range engines. You still probably have the tag I mentioned.
It is a newer than mid 80s.
It has so much stuff bolted on it is next to impossible to see if has 2 or 3 carbs. Looking at the rear of the engine, and at the Midsection, I am certain it is not a Looper, but rather a late 80s/early 90s 50 hp or 60 hp, based on the 49.7 cu” block
I was able to scrape the paint of the sticker on the mount and got serial number 08343674. Those are the numbers I could read and I think that’s all of them and I believe those are the right ones.
East to tell if it's a looper or original design off the Mark 55 4 cyl....pull a plug and look at the piston crown. If flat it's a new block design. If crowned, a cross flow like the originals. I remember back there somewhere merc had a 35 twin cross flow, just took half the cylinders of the Mark 55.
I guess you are looking for parts. If you can't figure it out, test the water from a supplier where you can return the parts if they don't fit-look like the parts in your engine....gotta leave them in the original baggage and condition so that seller can put them back up for resale to get credit. Good luck.
No 3 cylinder would have Pistons that look like the Pistons from a Mark 55. They would either be flat tops if looper, or a the Eyebrow deflector in the case of a Direct Charge engine, of which I am 99.99% certain this one is
More Evidence of that is the 2 carbs, a 3 cylinder Looper would have 3 carbs, and a much different midsection