MERCURY 9.9 HP 9.9MLH OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor is the long shaft, pull start version of Mercury’s hugely popular 9.9. It’s a smooth 208 cc twin cylinder four stroke on a 20 inch shaft, with the one handed multi-function tiller, auto ratchet trim and a 3.2 gallon fuel tank in the box. At about 84 pounds with no battery needed, it’s a simple, dependable motor for skiffs, long shaft jon boats, small pontoons and sailboats. We have it for sale new with the Mercury factory warranty and ship worldwide.

If you want a proper 9.9 on a 20 inch transom and you’d rather keep things simple, with no starter, no wiring and no battery to worry about, this is the model most people choose.

On this page:

• Why the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor
• What 9.9MLH means
• Boats it suits
• Features
• Specifications
• Maintenance
• Alternatives
• Price and shipping
• FAQ

Why the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor

Simplicity, mostly. Electric start is lovely, but it adds weight, cost, wiring and a battery that has to be looked after. The Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor skips all that. Set the choke, give it a pull, and the twin cylinder engine settles into a smooth idle. Once warm, it usually starts on the first pull.

You still get everything else that makes Mercury’s small twins so well liked. A single overhead cam engine with pressurised lubrication and a low oil pressure warning. Thermostat controlled cooling for smooth running in cold water. The multi-function tiller with forward, neutral and reverse shifting, throttle, throttle tension, steering and the stop switch all in one hand. Auto ratchet trim with five positions and a shallow water drive setting. A quiet exhaust through the prop hub.

And because it’s 9.9 hp, it slips under horsepower limits on many lakes and waterways around the world, while still being enough to plane a light boat.

What “9.9MLH” means

• 9.9 is the horsepower.
• M is manual start.
• L means a 20 inch long shaft.
• H is tiller handle steering.

Short shaft version: 9.9MH. Electric start long shaft: 9.9ELH. Heavy boat version: 9.9MLH Command Thrust.

Boats the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor suits

Measure from the top of your transom or bracket to the bottom of the hull. About 20 inches means this long shaft is right. About 15 inches means the 9.9MH. About 25 inches means extra long, like the 9.9MXLH.

• Aluminum skiffs with a 20 inch transom
• Long shaft jon boats, 14 to 16 feet
• Small pontoon boats on calm water
• Sailboats and trailer sailers on a bracket
• Kicker motors where manual start is fine

On a lighter skiff or jon boat with one or two people, it will get you on the plane. On small pontoons and heavier boats it gives a steady cruise. For really heavy boats, the Command Thrust version pushes better.

On the water

Clip on the lanyard, put it in neutral, set the choke and pull. Shift, throttle and steer from the tiller. The motor trolls smoothly and quietly, runs economically at cruise, and full throttle sits at 5,000 to 6,000 rpm. The shallow water drive helps in rivers and weedy lakes, and the auto ratchet lets you set trim quickly.

Buyer questions

“Manual or electric start?”

If you don’t carry a battery, or you want the lightest, simplest motor, go manual. If you already have a battery aboard, or pulling a cord is difficult for you, electric start is worth the extra.

“Can I add charging later?”

Yes. An optional 12 volt, 76 watt charging kit can be installed on the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor.

“Is it a good sailboat motor?”

Yes, on light to mid weight sailboats. For heavy sailboats, the Command Thrust version with its high thrust prop is better.

Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor features

• Manual start, no battery needed
• 20 inch long shaft
• Compact twin cylinder four stroke
• Digital CD ignition with spark advance
• High grade marine alloy construction
• Stainless steel water pump housing
• Zinc coated water passages, saltwater rated
• Sacrificial zinc anodes and trim tab
• Tiller integrated forward, neutral and reverse
• Adjustable steering tension
• Twist grip throttle with tension control
• Thermostat controlled cooling
• Auto ratchet trim (5 positions) and shallow water drive
• Quiet through prop hub exhaust
• 3.2 gallon fuel tank and line
• Start in gear protection, low oil pressure warning, ESG over rev protection
• Safety lanyard stop switch
• Mercury Marine 3 year warranty

Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor specifications

For the manufacturer’s own overview of the range, see Mercury’s FourStroke outboards page. Mercury updates details between model years, so if one spec really matters to your purchase, ask us and we’ll confirm it on the exact unit we ship.

Maintaining the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor

Fuel: fresh 87 octane, up to 10% ethanol. Disconnect the line and run the carb dry before long breaks.

Oil: about 800 ml of 10W-30. Check before each trip; change at 20 hours, then every 100 hours or yearly.

Gear case: change the lube yearly.

Cooling: check the telltale every start; flush after saltwater use.

If you’re newer to boating, the US Coast Guard boating safety site is worth a read. It’s written for US boaters, but the advice on kill cords, life jackets, fuel handling and navigation rules applies wherever you are in the world.

Kicker motor basics

A kicker is a small outboard mounted beside a boat’s main engine, mainly for trolling. Big engines are built to run fast, and many can’t idle down slowly enough for trolling. Running them at idle for hours also isn’t kind to them. A kicker like the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor trolls all day at a steady low speed, burns a fraction of the fuel and saves hours on the main engine.

It also doubles as a get home motor. If the main engine fails, a kicker will bring a mid size fishing boat back to the ramp slowly but surely. For anglers who fish big lakes or open water, that backup alone is reason enough to fit one.

Most kickers are mounted on a dedicated kicker bracket, which lifts the motor clear of the water when you’re running on the main engine. A connector bar can link the kicker’s steering to the main engine, so you steer from the helm while trolling.

Using your motor through the seasons

In spring, check the oil, fit fresh fuel, look over the fuel line and connectors for cracks, and run the engine on a flushing attachment or in a test tank before the first real trip. Look for a strong cooling stream and a smooth idle.

Through summer, the main jobs are fresh fuel, regular oil checks and rinsing after saltwater use. Keep an eye on the propeller for dings. A damaged prop costs you speed and fuel, and can cause vibration.

In autumn, before the boat is laid up, do the full storage routine: flush, change the oil and gear lube, deal with the fuel system as the owner’s manual describes, grease the moving parts and store the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor somewhere dry. Twenty minutes in autumn saves hours of frustration in spring.

Paperwork, warranty and keeping records

When your Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor arrives, write down the serial number and keep it with your invoice. Take a photo of the serial plate on your phone too. If you ever need warranty work, a dealer will ask for both, and it makes the process much quicker. The Mercury factory warranty starts from the date of purchase, so hang on to that paperwork.

It is also worth keeping a simple log: date, engine hours if you have them, oil changes, gear lube changes, impeller replacements and anything unusual you noticed. It takes seconds after each service, and it adds real value if you ever sell the boat. Buyers pay more for an engine with a clear service history, and it helps any mechanic you work with understand the motor quickly.

Check your boat insurance as well. Many policies have specific requirements for outboard security, such as a lock on the clamps or bracket, and some ask for the serial number. Better to sort that out on day one than find out after a problem.

Why buy from us

We deal in outboard motors every day, and we would rather give you a straight answer than make a quick sale. If you are not sure the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor is the right motor for your boat, message us with the make, model and length of the boat, how you use it and where you boat. We will tell you honestly whether it is a good match or whether something else would suit you better.

Every motor is packed carefully for the journey, and we keep you updated from dispatch to delivery with tracking. We ship worldwide, and we are happy to explain in advance what to expect with import duties and local taxes in your country, so there are no surprises when it arrives.

After you buy, we are still here. If you have questions about setup, break in or maintenance, just ask.

A small spares kit worth carrying

You do not need a workshop on board, but a few cheap parts turn most breakdowns into a ten minute fix. For the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor, we suggest a spare spark plug and the right spanner, spare propeller hardware, a spare kill cord, a small bottle of engine oil, a couple of fuses if the motor has electrics, and a fuel line O ring or connector seal. Add some cable ties, a roll of self amalgamating tape and a basic multi tool.

Pack it all in a small dry bag, keep it in the boat, and check it every spring. Most owners never need it. The ones who do are very glad it was there.

A quick checklist before every trip

It sounds obvious, but most days that go wrong on the water start with something small that got missed at the dock. Before you head out with your Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor, run through this in your head:

• Enough fresh fuel for the trip, plus a sensible margin
• Engine oil checked and at the right level
• Motor mounted securely and everything tight
• Kill cord clipped to you, not left on the tiller or dash
• Cooling telltale spraying water once the engine is running
• Life jackets, a way to call for help, and a small spares kit aboard

It takes a minute or two. It is also the habit that separates relaxed boat owners from the ones waiting for a tow.

More questions we get asked

Can I install the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor myself?

Many owners do, following the owner’s manual. If you are not confident with mounting, rigging or electrics, a local marine mechanic can set it up quickly, and it is money well spent.

How often does it need servicing?

Check the oil before every trip. Change the engine oil and gear lube at least once a year, or at the hour intervals in the owner’s manual, whichever comes first. Inspect the water pump impeller regularly and replace it as recommended.

What fuel should I use?

Fresh unleaded petrol of the octane rating shown in the specifications, with no more than 10% ethanol, unless it is a propane model. Old fuel is the cause of most running problems.

Can I pay in instalments?

Payment options vary by country. Contact us and we will tell you what is available for your order.

Real world setups for the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor

The river jon boat

A 15 foot jon boat with a 20 inch transom, used on a slow river for fishing and duck hunting. The Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor gets it on the plane with one person, handles the current with two, and the shallow water drive lets it creep over gravel bars. No battery means nothing to go flat over a cold winter.

The day sailer

An 18 to 22 foot day sailer or light trailer sailer on a stern bracket. The 9.9 gives plenty of reserve against wind and tide, reverse on the tiller makes docking easy, and pull starting is no trouble on a motor this smooth.

The small pontoon

A small pontoon on a quiet lake, used for relaxed family cruising. A 9.9 moves it along at a gentle pace, uses little fuel and keeps the noise down so conversations can carry on.

Setting up

Get a second person to help lift it. Centre it on the transom or bracket, tighten both clamp screws firmly by hand and tie a safety line to the boat. Set the trim with the auto ratchet so the motor sits close to vertical. Connect the fuel line, prime the bulb, check the oil, clip on the lanyard, put it in neutral, set the choke and pull. Check the telltale, vary the throttle for the first couple of hours and change the oil at 20 hours.

Fuel use

A small twin like the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor is very economical at trolling and cruising speeds, and a 3.2 gallon tank covers a long day for most owners. Backing off a little from full throttle saves a lot of fuel for very little lost speed.

Why fuel care matters so much

If there’s one thing that decides whether an outboard starts first time or leaves you pulling and swearing at the ramp, it’s fuel. Modern petrol, especially with ethanol blended in, starts to break down within weeks. It absorbs moisture, separates and leaves gummy deposits that block the tiny passages in fuel systems.

For your Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor, the rules are simple. Buy fresh fuel from a busy station. Don’t store it for months in a can. Keep the tank vent closed when the boat isn’t in use. Use a fuel stabiliser if the boat will sit for more than a few weeks. And before any long lay up, deal with the fuel system as the owner’s manual describes, rather than leaving old fuel inside the engine. It’s a few minutes of effort that saves a lot of cost and frustration.

Alternatives to the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor

8MLH: the same package at 8 hp.

9.9ELH: electric start with charging.

9.9MLH-CT: Command Thrust for heavy boats.

15MLH EFI: more power, fuel injected.

See the full range in our Mercury 9.9 HP section and main Mercury outboard motors category.

Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor for sale: price and worldwide shipping

The current price of the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor is shown at the top of this page. You can add it to your cart and check out straight away, or if you’d rather talk to a person first, send us a message through our contact page and we’ll come back to you with a full delivered price to your country.

What you get

• Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor, new
• 3.2 gallon fuel tank and quick connect fuel line
• 3 blade aluminum propeller, fitted
• Owner's manual
• Mercury Marine 3 year factory warranty from the date of purchase

Shipping worldwide

We ship to buyers all over the world. Every motor is packed securely for the journey and sent by courier, freight or sea depending on its size and where you are, with tracking from dispatch to delivery. Import duty and local taxes depend on your country, and we’re happy to explain what to expect before you pay so there are no surprises.

Buying with confidence

Have a read of our refund and return policy, see what other boat owners have said on our customer reviews page, and find out more about who we are on the about page.

Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor FAQ

What shaft length is the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor?

20 inches, long shaft.

Does it need a battery?

No, it’s manual start.

How heavy is it?

About 84 pounds.

Does it come with a fuel tank?

Yes, 3.2 gallons with a quick connect line.

Is it new?

Yes, with the full Mercury factory warranty.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for a delivered quote.

Order your Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor

A proper long shaft 9.9 with nothing complicated to go wrong. Add the Mercury 9.9 HP 9.9MLH outboard motor to your cart now, or send us a question first. You can also compare it with the rest of our outboard motors for sale.