Year and ignition

[Leighward]

Hi. I’m new to this forum but, I’m so interested in the outbound information and questions. I have one or two of my own. I just bought a 73 Glastron bow rider (v166) and a Mercury 850 came with it. I know nothing about it but, I do have the serial number. It’s 4371141-am i correct in thinking that it’s a’71? It look ls like a beast and its very heavy! I’m looking into ways of how I’m getting it on the boat. The guy I bought it from cut all the lines because he had to get it off the boat and he didn’t have time to feed all of the lines out intact. (I know it’s a weird story! Not really asking questions because he through it in with the price of the boat which was only $150.00!!! Any help I can get I very much appreciate it!! Thank you in advance!

 

[Chris1956]

The Maxrules site lists it as a 1976. If you take off the wrap cowl and see a distributor it is a few years older. A 1976 850 would have 4 ign coils.

I disagree that it is heavy for 85 HP. It will push your boat nicely.

Two strong people can lift that motor onto the transom. Balance the motor on it's skeg and have someone jack up the trailer tongue until it slips on.

Alternatively there is a Mercury lifting eye that screws into the flywheel. You can use a cum-a-long attached to a beam or something to lift it onto the transom.