Re: new merc's
bass man, <br />Since the max hp is 135 on this boat, I assume you're considering either the 115 or 125 2-stroke which are very similar. Only difference is carbs & jets, so I understand. I have owned two of the 115's, a 2002 and a 2003. There are a few issues you may want to consider.<br />1.The engine idles on 2 cylinders until it reaches approx 1800 Rpm's (carbs 3&4 don't have idle jets). The transition to four cylinders is usually good but sometimes when coming off plane to an idle the engine runs rough. It is best to keep the engine above idle but under 1800 for a few seconds until all the gas is used up in the bottom two cylinders. It can get kind of hairy when you're loading your boat on the trailer and you only lack a few inches. You give it a little more gas and the two bottom carbs/cylinders kick in. It pays to have it lined up good when this happens.<br />2. Both of my 115's wouldn't idle worth a darn unless the cowl/engine was almost completely level.<br />3. If your particular boat/motor/trailer setup requires you to tilt the motor to a rather extreme angle for transport, the carburetors will purge with the gas/oil mix running all over your transom well. The gas evaporates, the oil does not.<br />4. If you're lucky and the gasket between the attenuator plate and cover (air box) is in place and not leaking, it will catch the purged gas until the next time you're out and throttle up. The gas, ( mostly oil since gas evaporates) will be sucked into the bottom carburetor and burned up after it spits, sputters and hesitates for a while. The colder it gets, the worse it is. My '03 was better about this than my '02. Otherwise I feel they are solid dependable engines. Aside from the things mentioned, I've had zero mechanical problems. Don't get me wrong, I think Mercury makes a fine engine, I just didn't buy the right one. My experience.<br />JD
