Why did Mercury eliminate model year designations for its outboard engines?
Eliminating the “model year” designation results in a host of benefits for consumers of our products and for the dealers who represent Mercury Marine.
In the past, Mercury waited for the model year changeover date before introducing new products and enhancements to existing models. But because the market continues to evolve, making new products and improvements available in “real time” is absolutely necessary. A major benefit of this initiative is that the very latest products are always available, often much sooner than in the past.
In addition, because our boat builder and dealer customers can more effectively manage their inventory levels, they generally will not have to deplete prior-year inventory before receiving the newest products. This also helps ensure consumers always have the latest models.
Finally, this is consistent with current trends within the marine industry. Mercury's MerCruiser sterndrive engines and MotorGuide electric trolling motors have not had model years for some time, and two other major outboard manufacturers have also eliminated model year within the past twelve months.
How can I be assured I have the most up-to-date model?
Mercury uses a code to identify each outboard model it produces. In the past, the second-to-last character in the code was used to identify model year. Because Mercury had a model year, that character within the code was automatically updated every 12 months. For example, a 1-225V23DD model code referred to a Mercury 225XL Verado and the “D” in the second-to-last position represented the 2005 model year.
Going forward, that same second-to-last character will now be used to identify the “production era” of a given model. Further, by eliminating model year, Mercury will no longer arbitrarily update the model code every 12 months. Instead that will take place only when a significant product change occurs, such as a new model introduction where the newest variation replaces a prior version.
With this system, any models sharing the same code are physically identical, whether they are built in December, 2005 or March, 2006. Your Mercury dealer can help you identify the model code(s) on the engine(s) you are interested in and ensure you are getting the very latest product. This is also of particular importance if you are re-powering a boat with twin, triple, or quad engines.
How can I make sure I get the most current product to re-power my boat?
Outboards purchased individually (not part of a boat package) are normally pulled directly from your dealer's inventory. Dealers typically order a specific quantity of products up front in anticipation of selling them over the next several months. This helps to ensure they always have an ample supply of engines to fulfill your requirements quickly. That means you won't have to miss valuable fishing and boating time waiting for an order to ship from the factory. While these outboards are normally as current as the product shipped directly to boat builders, it is possible they were built 12-18 months prior to delivery. Your Mercury dealer can help you confirm you have the latest version by verifying the model code as described above.
How can I determine when my outboard was built?
Every Mercury outboard has a serial number label located on the transom bracket area of the engine. The latest serial number labels display a manufacturing date that shows a month and year of production. For example, an engine boxed in September of 2006 will read “Sep 2006” just above the serial number.
How will I ensure warranty coverage for my outboard without model year?
Your warranty begins when your new outboard is registered with Mercury at the time of your purchase. Therefore, warranty coverage is unaffected by the elimination of model year. For example, a 250XL Verado sold and registered in September of 2006 has the same three-year limited, non-declining warranty, regardless of whether it was manufactured in December, 2005 or March, 2006.
How does model year elimination affect the resale value of my outboard?
Organizations such as NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) typically establish values for boat packages based on the model year of the boat itself. From a propulsion standpoint, they place emphasis more on the horsepower of the engine than the date it was built. This is common practice in many applications, including sterndrive boat packages and automobiles, because the engine is merely a part of the entire package. From this perspective, eliminating model year will not affect resale value.
How will a state title my outboard?
Only six states require outboards to be titled (Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah), so most owners are not affected. If you reside in one of those states, Mercury will supply an MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) for your outboard that a dealer will submit to the state for titling purposes. In the past, the MSO document indicated a model year. Today, it displays a manufacture date (for example, “Sep 2006” ). A titling state will generally use the manufacture date in place of the model year when titling your outboard. For that reason, it is possible that the model year of the boat appearing on the title may be different from the manufacture date of the engine. For example, a 2007 model year boat may have an engine that was actually manufactured in late calendar year 2005 or 2006.
Again, it is important to remember the model year of the boat and the horsepower of the engine are the major factors in determining the value of the package.
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