Weight of a Mercury and Advice

**Pickinator** · 03-04-2020, 08:41 AM

Hi
I have a Mercury 150 v-6 Black Max XR-2 from the late 70s early 80s. I believe it to be somewhat of a Frankenstein motor of 70's and 80's parts.

Might anyone know the approximate weight of this thing?

Would a 175 hp or 200 hp of the same era weigh more? I am considering a little more hp for our '77 Hydrostream Vector. I also don't want to over stress the boat with added weight and torque, so I may well not change it. The boat originally had a '77 Evinrude 175 hp. The Merc runs way better and faster than the Evinrude did.

Thanks
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**Lasernut** · 03-04-2020, 09:05 AM

It probably weighs around 350lbs and a 200 wouldn’t be much more if any. I suggest to put a 3/8 plate between the motor or jack plate and the transom and then it should handle the power if the transom is still solid.

**nitro_rat** · 03-04-2020, 10:16 AM

There's a 50lb swing in just the clamp weight between single ram and the old two ram trim with 3 ram falling somewhere in the middle. If it's a XR2 it would have originally been on a 3 ram mid. Hard to know what you have without pics...

**Pickinator** · 03-04-2020, 12:04 PM

I am not by the boat today to snap a picture. I can say that the reservoir that holds the trim and tilt fluid is in the boat and (2) hydraulic lines travel through (inside) two of the engine mount bolts. If that helps?

**Pickinator** · 03-04-2020, 12:13 PM

The very strong looking farm-hand that I bought the motor from was able to dead-lift the motor. He moved it to a better position on the trailer that I was hauling it home on. He didn't even appear to struggle much doing it.

**nitro_rat** · 03-04-2020, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Pickinator

I am not by the boat today to snap a picture. I can say that the reservoir that holds the trim and tilt fluid is in the boat and (2) hydraulic lines travel through (inside) two of the engine mount bolts. If that helps?

That's the old 2 ram trim, the lightest setup they ever had. XR2 didn't come out until much later, 1985 IIRC. Those oldies have some unique parts that aren't always considered desirable. They can be good runners though!

**Pickinator** · 03-04-2020, 05:22 PM

So it must have a replacement cowling (among who knows whatever other parts are bolted in).

Can you guess the date of our motor? I had been figuring 1978 or 1979. Also is the guess of around 350 lbs about right? (Would it be true that the 2020's are 100 lbs heavier)?
Even the 2018 4-stroke Merc on our pontoon boat weighs in at 359 lbs.

If I can find a 200hp of the same year (and more importantly, same weight), I'd like to swap out engines. I have had our frankenmerc 150 for 12 years. It still runs very well and if I had to stay with what I have; I could. I would just like to push the envelope if I could....

Thanks for your opinions and information.
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