Redesigned 2020 Mercury 15 HP EFI Outboard Review & Starting Engine For The First Time!!

[@gabrielb2598]

I bought a brand new 2023 for my small aluminum 13 foot John boat. A boat bigger than us came to close and the motor fell off the back. I forgot to tie it on and it sank. That happened today. First go on the engine. Bottom of winnipesakee. Luckily I got the warranty and we were able to salvage it.

[@RealFishin]

@Gabriel B fantastic they covered it by warranty and you were able to get it back! How do you like the engine?

[@gabrielb2598]

@@RealFishinit doesn’t run quite right anymore but i’m sure if I service it again it should work fine 😅

[@Joe-lm6dr]

Thanks, good presentation, very informative. I have a 2020 20 hp Mercury. I was having difficulty starting it on the water after a 15-30 min stop at a fish drop. Discovered it was not getting gas. Turns out I had installed an inexpensive in-line fuel filter in the fuel hose. Your comment about no need for an in-line filter (and its not recommended) b/c of the installed fuel filter on the port side of the power head was key and helps explain my no-start issue. Took the in-line hose filter out and have not had issues. Thanks. Joe

[@RealFishin]

I’m glad it helped! That was a question that I asked the mechanic when I bought the engine. Good luck fishing!!

[@anthonylatronica5108]

I have a large spin on filter and have no issues whatsoever with fuel starvation. Fyi

[@markcollins5026]

Man, I got a 2022 15 hp with EFI mine also takes a few pull's to start hot or cold haven't had on the lake yet !

[@MM-ow1sk]

I have had their engine for 11 years and it is in perfect condition. I am planning to buy a new one and I am considering whether to take 15hp or 20hp. Nice video and very detailed description of the engine.

[@RealFishin]

How big is your boat? I have been really happy with the engine. I would get the 20 if my boat was larger than 15 feet but it is a great combination for my little boat.

[@watercool5]

Hey there you don't need to worry about ethanol so much with a fuel injected motor. Also, the safety chain is pulling your starboard clamp counterclockwise, so it might loosen up over time. I like to twist until they point towards each other, then pass a padlock through both holes.

[@RealFishin]

Great idea regarding the safety chains! I’ll try to make the adjustment. The engine burns so little fuel the cost of ethanol free is a non factor. A full day on the water will burn no more than a gallon of fuel. Tight lines and thanks again!

[@ironix1]

Thanks. Very informative with great camera angles. Excellent video.

[@RealFishin]

Glad you liked it!

[@dixieboy5689]

Excellent motor. I have this same one on my 16' aluminum fishing boat. Its perfect in the Suwanee River and the Gulf of Mexico. Ill give it a whirl here on the Maine coast, near Eastport in a day or two. Good motor. Great video.

[@RealFishin]

@dixieboy5689 thank you! It has been a great motor so far! What kind of fish do you target?!

[@dixieboy5689]

@@RealFishin >>> down south : bass , catfish ,gar, brim. In Maine: bass , lake salmon, white perch. Atlantic mackerels.

[@joej.4170]

Just got a new 25hp EFI mercury. That beep you hear at the begin is the alarm testing itself. There isn't a light anymore on the 2023, there isn't a hose flush port either. They also changed the fuel fitting. Mine didn't even come with a prop, the 25s dont.

[@RealFishin]

@joej.4170 crazy! so you have to use the ear muffs to flush the engine? I like the side port to flush it. How do you like the 25 HP engine?

[@joej.4170]

Its very powerful, but it weighs 140lbs so heavier and much larger than your engine. To flush the motor I use muffs or fill a bucket with water. Not sure why they eliminated the flush port.

[@kadenengle9385]

Most certainly needs a 20 hour service… even if it doesn’t call for it, PLEASE change your oil and gear fluid. Lots of metal particles after break in that you want to get out

[@RealFishin]

Good point! Thanks!

[@omieyouknowme]

Agree 10/20 hour service for oil change I saw metal in both oil changes, tohatsu said it's normal

[@orlandoduran7740]

yeah the break it, its what call for my f6 yamaha

[@bobhunt3197]

Good old Tohatsu, they make great motors.

[@RealFishin]

@Bob Hunt Yes they are! I am very happy with it!

[@markcollins5026]

Man. I just got a new 2022 15 hp Mercury with EFI, mine takes a few pull's to start, vent cap is loose primer bulb is ferm, also mine does not have the maintenance decals on the inside of the motor, haven't had it out on the lake yet, to cold it's winter, hope it starts easier when broke in !

[@RealFishin]

@Mark Collins interesting. It takes me at most three pulls to start a cold engine with most starting on pull two. If the engine is warm, it takes one to two pulls. Are you using the fuel tank they provided? I had to switch to the tank they provided vs the one I had from the prior motor. Maybe it is the cold environment or will improve when you break her in. I followed the break in process from the the book. It might be worth calling mercury or you dealer and asking for the decals. What are you fishing for?!

[@StrippedOno]

when will you make some more Mercury videos, these are great!

[@RealFishin]

Might have a review if a 300 hp Mercury! Also waiting to review your newly designed v6 4.2 liter Yamaha

[@js-wq6zy]

Tohatsu/Mercury's are well built but the under the engine cover it is fwr is less refined, the wiring harnesses, hoses and organization , even the oil filter location could be far better to make servicing easier.

[@sadsausage2224]

Hi, what is the max transom thickness for this outboard? My boat has a very thick transom.

[@RealFishin]

@sadsausage2224 I would think it would fit 63mm, but can measure when I am out at the boat.

[@BrockOBauma]

Where the oil filter mounts, is it designed to contain the oil during filter change?

[@woodlandsnorth]

Thanks for this. Im looking at one of these. How has it held up?

[@RealFishin]

@woodlandsnorth so far so good! I would buy again.

[@sheikhamoepearl]

Great Video , Does it have a throttle lock for trolling?

[@RealFishin]

Thanks! It sure does have a throttle lock. I will get a video of it running shortly.

[@Sky360Phoenix]

Nice presentation. I bought the same motor last year for my TrueKit Discovery Inflatable. I'm looking forward to taking it out on the water for the first time this summer. 😃 Have you heard of the Mercury Vesselview? It's some kind of motor diagnostics tech that connects via an app on your phone. Monitors speed, engine hours, revs etc. But I'm not sure if it is compatible for smaller engines under 40 hp. Would be nice to have something like this.

[@RealFishin]

Thanks!! You have a wonderful engine! Hurry up summer so you can enjoy it. I think the vessel view is only applicable for larger engines but you are right it would be a nice addition!

[@nickguillen2521]

Do you through bolt your motor to the transom, or are the clamps enough to hold the motor on the boat.

[@RealFishin]

@Nick Guillen , you can through bolt the engine but I only used the provided engine clamps and used chain and carabiner clip so it will not loosen. I have not had an issue but will double check the connection every so often to make sure the engine is tight.

[@watercool5]

Mercury puts a sticker on this motor that says you will die if you don't bolt the thing on, so I did with mine.

[@wiattalbertson8293]

Love the video helped me out on my 2021 got today

[@RealFishin]

Fantastic! What kind of boat are you putting the engine on?

[@davidreta3664]

Hey bud how big is your boat and how fast did your 9.9 push it

[@RealFishin]

13 foot duaranatutic utility boat. The 9.9 with two adults people pushed it about 12 mph and 18-20 mph with one person.

[@RealFishin]

I also added smart trim tabs that helped push the boat on plane with two people .

[@RS-ge4dz]

Are the tabs to screw the boat to the transom metal or plastic ?

[@RealFishin]

@RS 850 The tabs use metal screws to attach to the boat. I added some 4200 since the screws are under the water. The actual Nauticus Smart Tabs are plastic but they make a world of difference. I have had them for four years without problems and I wish I got them sooner. I will make a video shortly showing the boat setup. Link to the Smart Trim Tabs: amzn.to/3Hm5KOo

[@tlteal]

FYI - The suzuki 15hp efi is 97 lbs. I'm looking at all of them and need to make a decision. Currently have 15hp Merc (carb). Getting tired of fiddling with carbs.

[@RealFishin]

You probably can sell your Mercury 15 HP Carburetor for a decent price since supply is so low and used outboard engine demand is high. I have been impressed with the newly designed 15 HP EFI. When I bought my engine, I priced out Suzuki and it was actually more money than the Mercury. Price differs significantly between dealerships. I spent an hour calling every Mercury, Yamaha, and Suzuki dealership within a 2-3 hours of my home. I was amazed to see the price difference between the locations.

[@robertsatoer4668]

The suz is actually a 20hp downgraded

[@ia6980]

What made you go with Mercury vs Tohatsu?

[@RealFishin]

@ia6980 Tohatsu makes the smaller Mercury engines including this one. Mercury had a good deal on the extended warranty and the extended dealer network sold us!

[@adez5143]

Hello there! I came across your Vid a while back and I found it very informative. I have the same model outboard as you and I had a very bad experience out in the water. I was riding my boat W.O.T, I seen a gator I wanted to look at, when I slowed down The check engine light came on and went into so type of lock mode that I could only go less than 1/4 of the speed. I turned it off at the dock, the light went off and I was able to ride pass 1/4, have you ever heard of this?? Nice set up by the way! Those small Vessels don’t get enough credit.

[@RealFishin]

@Adez Thank you for the kind words! I have not come across that issue. How many hours do you have on the engine? Are you using the included fuel tank? Did you check the fuel water separator on the engine?

[@standbackstandby200]

Thank you for such an in depth review! Did you pay for the motor and wait 6 months to receive it?

[@RealFishin]

I lucked out and found a dealer that just started to carry Mercury engines about six months ago- so they had one in stock that they just got in stock after waiting 6 months. I called every dealer within a two hour drive and they were all back ordered. Strong demand and supply constraints. A few dealers offered to take a small deposit for the next available engine. Also, the price varied significantly between the dealers. I spent 2 hours on the phone calling every dealer in my region.

[@standbackstandby200]

@@RealFishin same problem I’m running into in Houston. Hopefully I can get lucky. Thanks for the quick and thorough reply! Tight lines brother😎

[@standbackstandby200]

@@RealFishin I decided to follow your strategy and called a company 4hrs away yesterday. Mgr said he just got a 2022 15hp Merc in the night before and I bought it! It was the only one in the state😎

[@RealFishin]

Nice work! Let me know how you like the engine after you run it!! How big is your boat?

[@standbackstandby200]

@@RealFishin Thanks. It’s a 1436, so it should be flying soon😂

[@grahamferguson6793]

Getting ready to maby get a 20hp merc, which is basicly the same motor as your 15. How slow will it go for trolling.

[@RealFishin]

@Graham Ferguson - you will love the engine! See my other comment on the other video. What engine are you upgrading?

[@anthonylatronica5108]

The top flushing port cannot be used to run the engine. It is a flush port only. Fyi

[@RealFishin]

thanks Anthony! I will check out the owners manual. I thought it said you can flush with or without starting the engine.

[@nickguillen2521]

Is that motor able to charge a battery, being a 12-volt trolling motor battery

[@RealFishin]

@Nick Guillen, I believe you can add a Charging Kit, but you should check with a dealer. Mercury sells two options, one is a manual rope pull and the other is an electric start. The electric version also has the rope pull. I went with the manual to cut down on weight since the boat is small.

[@kajmolin297]

A good motor. I have one.

[@mikemurphy3887]

hey i have the same motor i just bought from someone used. it has less than ten hours on it, there is alot of "play" or "wobble" between the motor and the bracket. just wondering if there was some way to tighten something and fix it. thanks

[@RealFishin]

I don’t believe I have the same issue. I will take out the boat this weekend and will see if I find a solution to your problem. Is your bracket secure to the boat? Is the engine catching the bracket?

[@michaelmurphy3113]

@@RealFishin yes the bracket is tight to the transom, there’s excessive play between the motor and the transom bracket

[@RealFishin]

Have you adjusted the red tilt lever? Maybe it isn’t locked in.

[@michaelmurphy3113]

@@RealFishin I drop the motor down into the water and then I have to move the red lever to raise it up so I am assuming it is locking into place properly. There seems to be two bolts that come out of the motor and there’s som black foam around there prob to keep water out of there, that seems to be where the “play” is. I tried to tighten those two bolts but they were very right already. The bolts come out of the motor and then there are nuts on the end, that’s actually what I tired to tighten

[@RealFishin]

I just published a video of the engine running. Check it out as it might help you. If not, It might be best to take to a Mercury dealer and to see what they say.

[@genaro-p9t]

buenas tardes saludos desde mexico tengo ese mismo motor desde ase dos años todo estaba bien al principio pero orita perdió potencia i me gasta mucha gasolina q puedo acer

[@RealFishin]

¿Has cambiado el filtro de combustible? ¿Es un cuatro tiempos?

[@genaro-p9t]

@@RealFishin no lo e cambiado pero le realizo el servicio al cuerpo de aceleración i quedo igual por momentos arranca bien algo no anda bien puede ser algún sensor?

[@tolgaogan3812]

I SAW TWO BLACK AMORTİSOR NEAR THE MERCURY MOTOR LEFT AND RİGHT. WHAT IS USEFUL?

[@RealFishin]

Hi! What is an amortisor?! A shock absorber ? Thanks!!

[@rodneydockrill604]

Great power to rate ratio.

[@RealFishin]

I have been impressed so far!

[@emanuelecappa8195]

Nice explication...great!

[@RealFishin]

Thank you! I will get a video of it running soon!

[@genarocabrera8769]

Hola saludos desde México tengo un motor igual a ese mi duda es si se puede conectar algún foco lámpara 🔦 al motor

[@RealFishin]

@Genaro Cabrera ¡Hola! Es probable que mi versión manual no tenga la capacidad de agregar una bombilla 🔦 al motor. si obtiene la versión de arranque eléctrico, probablemente podría agregar luces de marcha u otras luces para que funcione con una batería.

[@genarocabrera8769]

@@RealFishin muchas gracias por su respuesta

[@genarocabrera8769]

Tengo una duda Tengo un motor mercury 15 fi solo tiene 40 horas de uso ban dos beses q me prende la alarma a bajas revoluciones

[@RealFishin]

¿Puedes llevarlo al distribuidor?

[@genarocabrera8769]

@@RealFishin Aquí donde vivo no ay mecánicos capacitados para este tipo de motor le podría afectar al motor q el nivel de aceite este por encima del máximo le puse un litro de aceite

[@michaelwolf8781]

Nice Tohatsu.

[@RealFishin]

great motor!

[@michaelwolf8781]

@@RealFishin I get one next week😁

[@RealFishin]

@Michael Wolf what boat are you putting it on? What are you fishing for?!

[@michaelwolf8781]

@@RealFishin 2006 14‘ Crestliner utility aluminum boat

[@genarocabrera3974]

Q combustible se debe usar en este motor

[@RealFishin]

REC-90 es una mezcla de gasolina sin plomo de 90 octanos sin etanol

[@jazzsounds8159]

How much does it weigh?

[@RealFishin]

The sticker on the engine says it weighs 105 pounds but the Mercury website says it should weighs 99 pounds. Probably go with the sticker at 105!

[@bermyFairn]

Imight buy one but this blurb tells me nothing. I'm likely to buy atohatsu direct, cheaper and same engine

[@RealFishin]

The Mercury 15hp is a solid engine and I have been really happy with the purchase.

[@Nardage]

Same price

[@Kana0211]

That's a huge mirror jeez

[@RealFishin]

she sure is!

[@kevincrowe2888]

Great video!! If I don’t mind please give me the letter by letting part# I am in the market for this motor. But I’m new to all this and don’t want to get something different. Thanks

[@RealFishin]

Thanks!! The Mercury model is 1A15201LK It also lists F15MH. The engine is a manual start short shaft (15 inches) four stroke. The shafts come in different sizes and the engine is offered with an electric start option.

[@kevincrowe2888]

@@RealFishin awesome thanks a million

[@kevincrowe2888]

@@RealFishin I just double checked the motor I was really leaning towards and it’s the same part#👍 thanks again for the quick response

[@RealFishin]

@Kevin Crowe great news! I’m glad they have an engine available! What are you going to be fishing for?! Or just cruising?

[@ia6980]

2 pulls ? Why? Tohatsu 6hp requires 1 pull. New engine, i wonder why not 1 pull

[@RealFishin]

@ia6980 one pull when it is cold? that's great! I previously had a 6 and 9.9 HP yamaha. both required more pulls when the engine was cold.

[@ЕмилияноРадев]

Yamaha 15 has the fuel filter. Wrong information

[@RealFishin]

Mercury 15 has an internal fuel filter. I didn’t talk about the 15 Yamaha so not sure what you are talking about .

[@ЕмилияноРадев]

@@RealFishin Yes, but you said that the Mercury has a fuel filter and the Yamaha 15 does not, but Yamaha has the fuel filter

[@ilikechippies2551]

15? that looks like 50!

[@RealFishin]

The camera always adds 50 pounds! Thanks for watching . I’ll get a video of it running soon.

[@leonardoryanrizzi1149]

Nice video but Mercury makes tohatsu i am a professional on this

[@RealFishin]

Hi Leonardo! Thank you for watching the review! Brunswick Corporation (owner of Mercury Marine) has a joint venture with Tohatsu Marine Corporation and Tohatsu makes the smaller Mercury engines. Statement from the BRUNSWICK CORPORATION annual report. “The Company has a 50 percent interest in a Japanese manufacturing company, Tohatsu Marine Corporation (TMC), which is accounted for as an equity method investment. The Company purchases engines from TMC, which are sold mostly in international markets. The Company reported a net amount payable to TMC of $44.7 million and $27.3 million at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, within Accounts payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Purchases from TMC were $91.0 million, $102.6 million and $117.1 million in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.” Page 78 of the 2020 BRUNSWICK CORPORATION annual report www.brunswick.com/investors/financial-information/annual-reports

[@rodneydockrill604]

Tohatsu makes all the portable outbords 40hp down to 2.5 hp,

[@leonardoryanrizzi1149]

Ok thank you, then even Honda and tohatsu have a joint venture

[@leonardoryanrizzi1149]

BuT are you sure?

[@omieyouknowme]

@@rodneydockrill604 it's 30hp and below. The 40merc and tohatsu are unique