Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

[The Wright Stuff]

I know this gets posted alot and I read back though most of them but...<br /><br />I just bought my first boat. Its a 1973 boat and has a 50 HP Mercury 3 cyl oil injected engine on the back. Its not the original engine on the boat. I am trying to find out what year/model the engine is so I can get a manual for it. I was told that it leaks water from one of the spark plugs and it was due to an exhaust gasket. I dont know if that is true or not. <br /><br />I read about where to look for the serial # on the engine but do not see a serial # plate anywhere. Pretty much every part has a different # stamped on it but dont see anything that would be a serial #. Can anyone tell me how I can identify the year/model without a serial #?<br /><br />I also dont know what make of boat it is. Its a tri-hull fiberglass with a right side console. Any help on the engine is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Laotzu]

Re: Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

Have you looked on the bracket where it mounts on the transom (facing out)? you need to raise the motor to see.

 

[BaysideMarine]

Re: Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

There should be a serial number about the size of a postage stamp on the starboard side of the swivel bracket (just behind the midsection). Failing that on the block you will find an aluminium disc about 3/4 inch in diameter fitted into one of the welsh plug points. This disc will have a large letter "M" and the serial number beneath.<br /><br />If its an oil injected 50 it has to be at least 1986. The decal on the cowl is most likely two greyish bands beneath the word Mercury and a thin horizontal red band running halfway between the word Mercury.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Nicholas Hubbard<br />Bayside Marine P/L

 

[The Wright Stuff]

Re: Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

"on the block you will find an aluminium disc about 3/4 inch in diameter fitted into one of the welsh plug points. This disc will have a large letter "M" and the serial number beneath."<br /><br />I did see the round aluminum disc. Wasnt sure if that wasnt the actual serial # though. I will check that out again once its daylight. <br /><br />"If its an oil injected 50 it has to be at least 1986. The decal on the cowl is most likely two greyish bands beneath the word Mercury and a thin horizontal red band running halfway between the word Mercury."<br /><br />You are right on the coloring, red stripe going through the name Mercury and the two grayish bands. I will get the # off the round disc tomorrow and see what I have. Ill post the results of what I find.<br /><br />Thanks for the help.

 

[The Wright Stuff]

Re: Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

Ok. I got the number off the round aluminum piece. <br /><br />The number is B286562<br /><br />The site I was using for the serial #s only lists up to 1976. Can anyone help me find out any info from that number? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Virago85]

Re: Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

its an 88

 

[The Wright Stuff]

Re: Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

Thanks alot for the info. Is there a website which has that info listed? I must have gone through 10 pages of a Google search and had no luck. <br /><br />Now I can locate an owners/Repair manual and get to work on it. <br /><br />This board has plenty of great info. Ill be sure to search through the older posts for what Im asking about before I post though. Thanks everyone.

 

[Ken G]

Re: Bought my first boat- Older Mercury 50HP- what model/year is it?

http://www.pfs-ware.com/kwast/merc_serial_number_reference_gui.htm <br /><br />Iboats sells the Seloc manual for that motor.