MERCURY 35 HP 35ELPT JET OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor is a four cylinder, fuel injected jet outboard with remote steering, electric start and power trim and tilt. Built on a 60.8 cubic inch four stroke with an 18 amp alternator, it has the muscle to push bigger, heavier river boats through shallow water where a propeller can’t go. It weighs about 267 pounds. We have it for sale new with the Mercury factory warranty and ship worldwide.

Mercury’s FourStroke jets range from 25 to 40 horsepower. The 35 is the one many river boaters settle on when a 25 feels short of breath with a load aboard.

On this page:

• Why the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor
• Boats and uses
• Features
• Specifications
• Jet care
• Alternatives
• Price and shipping
• FAQ

Why the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor

Jets lose some efficiency compared with a propeller, so jet boats need a bit more engine to perform well. A 35 hp jet with a four cylinder, 60.8 cubic inch powerhead gives a console river boat the torque to get on plane with a load, carry gear and passengers, and run upstream against current. That’s where the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor earns its place.

Fuel injection gives reliable starting and smooth running. The four cylinder engine is refined and quiet at cruise. The 18 amp alternator is strong enough for navigation lights, a fish finder, a GPS and a livewell. And power trim and tilt lets you set the jet’s running angle from the helm and raise it for trailering or beaching.

Model code: 35 hp powerhead, E electric start, L transom height, PT power trim and tilt, Jet jet drive. Remote steering, listed with a 15 inch shaft; always match the jet’s transom height to your hull.

Boats and uses for the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor

• Console aluminum jet boats and river sleds
• Guide boats carrying clients and gear on shallow rivers
• Waterfowl boats with heavy decoy loads
• Search and rescue and work boats

On the water

Start from the helm with the key. Trim down and get on plane in deeper water, then carry speed across the shallows. Avoid idling or powering hard in very shallow spots, where gravel can be drawn into the pump. Use trim to fine tune how the boat rides and how the pump grips.

Buyer questions

“25, 35 or 40 jet?”

For light boats and small loads, a 25 jet can be enough. For typical console river boats with two or three people and gear, the 35 is a sweet spot. For heavier boats, look at the 40.

“Is rigging included?”

Remote control, cables, steering and battery are usually quoted separately to suit your boat.

Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor features

• Jet drive, nothing below the hull
• Four cylinder, 60.8 cu in four stroke
• Electronic fuel injection
• Electric start
• Remote steering
• Power trim and tilt
• 18 amp alternator
• Forward, neutral and reverse
• Phantom Black finish
• Mercury Marine factory warranty

Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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.

Caring for the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor

Intake: clear the grate of weed and debris.

Impeller: check and adjust clearance periodically.

Bearings: grease the pump bearing on schedule.

Engine: fresh fuel, regular oil changes, fresh water flush after use.

Power trim: check fluid and connections.

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.

How an outboard jet works

A jet outboard like the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor replaces the normal gearcase and propeller with a jet pump. Water is drawn up through an intake grate under the boat, accelerated by an impeller inside the pump housing, and pushed out the back as a powerful stream. There’s no propeller hanging below the hull.

That means the pump sits roughly level with the bottom of the boat, so you can run in water just inches deep: shallow rivers, rocky runs, gravel bars, flooded timber and tidal flats where a propeller would be destroyed. It’s also why jets are popular for rescue and river work, as there’s no exposed spinning prop near people in the water.

The trade off is efficiency. A jet uses some of the engine’s power to drive the pump, so a jet outboard produces less thrust than the same powerhead with a propeller. As a rule of thumb, expect roughly 70% of the prop version’s performance. Most jet buyers are happy with that, because the places they want to go simply aren’t reachable with a prop.

Jets also need a little care. Clear the intake grate of weed and debris, check the impeller clearance periodically, and grease the bearings as the owner’s manual describes. The stainless impeller Mercury uses stands up well to sand and small stones, which is exactly what river boaters run into.

What electronic fuel injection means for you

The Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor uses electronic fuel injection, or EFI, instead of a carburetor. In plain terms, a small computer measures things like air temperature and engine load and injects exactly the right amount of fuel every time. You don’t need to fiddle with a choke. It starts easily whether it’s a frosty morning or a hot afternoon, it idles smoothly, and it responds cleanly when you open the throttle.

EFI is also less fussy about sitting. Carburetors have tiny jets and a fuel bowl that gum up when old fuel evaporates inside them. A sealed injection system is much more tolerant, although fresh fuel is still the best policy. And because the fuel is metered precisely, EFI motors tend to be more economical, which means more time on the water per tank.

Mercury’s small EFI engines can even start and run without a battery on manual start models: the pull of the cord generates enough power for the fuel injection system to fire. That’s a clever bit of engineering, and it means you get the benefits of EFI without having to carry a battery if you don’t want to.

Why power trim is worth having

Trim is the angle of the motor relative to the transom, and on a planing boat it makes a real difference. With the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor trimmed in, the bow stays down, which helps the boat climb onto the plane quickly and ride more softly in a chop. Once you’re planing, trimming out slightly lifts the bow a touch, reduces the wetted hull and drag, and usually adds speed and saves fuel. Power trim lets you make those adjustments on the move, at the press of a button, as load and conditions change.

Power tilt also raises the motor fully for trailering, beaching, launching and running through shallow water, all without lifting heavy weight over the transom.

What rigging a remote steer motor involves

A remote steer outboard like the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor is controlled from a helm rather than a tiller. That means a few parts are needed to connect it to your boat: a remote control box (side mount or binnacle), throttle and shift cables of the right length, a steering system with a cable or hydraulics, an ignition wiring harness, a key switch, and a suitable battery with properly sized cables. If your boat already has a helm set up for a Mercury, some of these parts may carry over.

Because every boat is laid out differently, these parts are normally chosen to suit the installation. We’re happy to put together a complete package for your boat, or to supply the motor alone if you’re working with a local mechanic. Proper rigging makes a big difference to how smoothly a remote motor shifts and steers, so it’s worth getting right.

Trailering with your motor

Most owners of a motor like the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor leave it on the boat and trailer them together. A few habits protect the motor on the road. Use a transom saver or motor support bracket where recommended, so the motor isn’t bouncing on its tilt mechanism over bumps. Make sure there’s good ground clearance under the skeg. Close the fuel vent and disconnect the fuel line. And check the motor mounting bolts or clamps before every trip, because vibration on the road can loosen them over time.

At the ramp, lower the motor only once there’s enough water under it, and raise it before you drive the boat onto the trailer. It sounds obvious, but a surprising number of skegs and props get damaged at the ramp rather than out on the water.

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 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor somewhere dry. Twenty minutes in autumn saves hours of frustration in spring.

Paperwork, warranty and keeping records

When your Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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.

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 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor

25ELPT Jet: lighter remote jet.

40ELPT Jet: a 40 hp powerhead jet.

Mercury Marine Jet 25 hp: remote 25 hp jet for a 20 inch transom.

See our main Mercury outboard motors category.

Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor for sale: price and worldwide shipping

The current price of the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor, new
• Owner's manual
• Mercury Marine factory warranty from the date of purchase

Remote control, cables, steering and battery can be quoted to suit your boat.

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 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor FAQ

How many cylinders does the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor have?

Four.

Does it have power trim?

Yes, power trim and tilt.

How heavy is it?

About 267 pounds.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for a delivered quote.

Order your Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet outboard motor

Four cylinder jet power for console river boats that need to carry a load. Add the Mercury 35 HP 35ELPT jet 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.