40ELHPT COMMAND THRUST SEA PRO

Description

This 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro is a used Mercury SeaPro 40 hp FourStroke that has come back at the end of a lease. It has 267 hours on the engine, and the listing includes three years of warranty cover. It’s a tiller model with electric start, power trim and tilt, a long shaft and the Command Thrust gearcase. We have it for sale now and we ship worldwide.

A lease return is usually one of the better ways to buy a used outboard. The engine was run by one operator on a set term, it was serviced to keep the lease in good standing, and it comes back at a known number of hours. At 267 hours a SeaPro four stroke is barely run in; Mercury validates these engines for three times the life of a recreational motor.

On this page:

• Why buy this one
• What 267 hours means
• Boats it suits
• Features
• Specifications
• Maintenance
• Alternatives
• Price and shipping
• FAQ

Why buy this 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro

Price is the obvious reason. A new SeaPro 40 with Command Thrust costs a good deal more, and this one has already been through its first few hundred hours, which is when any small factory fault tends to show itself. You still get a commercial grade motor with the heavy duty calibration, the corrosion resistant alloy and the big gearcase that makes the SeaPro so popular with people who work on the water.

The warranty matters too. Most used outboards are sold as seen. This one is listed with three years of cover, which takes most of the risk out of buying used. We confirm the exact warranty terms and start date in writing before you pay.

Model code: 40 hp, E electric start, L long shaft, H tiller handle, PT power trim and tilt. Command Thrust is the larger gearcase; Sea Pro is Mercury’s commercial line.

What 267 hours means on a SeaPro

People often worry about hours without context. A recreational boat might do 50 to 100 hours a year, so 267 hours is roughly three to five seasons of weekend use. For a commercial engine, it’s a few months of work. A well maintained four stroke of this type can run into the thousands of hours, and SeaPro models are built for exactly that kind of use.

What matters more than the number is how those hours were spent and whether the servicing was done. Lease engines tend to do well here, because the lease company has a reason to keep them serviced. Ask us for whatever history came back with the engine, and we’ll share it.

Boats the 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro suits

• Commercial fishing skiffs and pangas
• Aluminum workboats and utility boats
• Tiller boats used for guiding or hire
• Heavier hulls that need thrust more than top speed
• Older boats being repowered with a lighter, modern four stroke

Check your transom height (this is a 20 inch long shaft) and your boat’s maximum horsepower rating before ordering.

On the water

Turn the key and it starts. The tiller handle carries the throttle, shift and trim switch, so you control everything from one hand. The Command Thrust gearcase swings a bigger prop, so a loaded boat gets on plane without the motor being worked hard, and it stays on plane at lower speeds. That’s where the fuel savings and the long engine life come from.

40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro features

• Used lease return, 267 hours
• Warranty cover as listed (three years), confirmed in writing
• 40 hp SeaPro FourStroke, inline 4, 995 cc
• Multi port electronic fuel injection
• Electric (turn key) start
• Tiller steering
• Power trim and tilt
• Command Thrust gearcase
• 18 amp alternator
• Engine Guardian protection
• XK360 low copper alloy for corrosion resistance

40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro specifications

For the manufacturer’s own overview of the range, see Mercury’s SeaPro commercial 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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro

First thing: if the service records don’t show a recent oil, filter and gear lube change, do one before the first trip. It’s cheap and gives you a clean starting point.

Oil: 25W-40 four stroke oil, changed on hours.

Water pump: check when the impeller was last replaced; replace it if there’s no record.

Anodes: check and replace in salt water.

Cooling: check the telltale every start and flush after salt.

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.

What makes SeaPro different

SeaPro is Mercury’s commercial range, built for boats that work for a living: commercial fishing boats, workboats, ferries, dive boats, law enforcement and rescue. Mercury validates its 40 and 60 hp SeaPro FourStroke engines to three times the engine life of a recreational engine, and calibrates them to reach maximum torque at lower rpm. That means more pulling power with less strain on the engine, getting a heavy boat on plane faster and holding it there at lower speeds.

SeaPro engines also use Mercury’s XK360 low copper aluminum alloy for improved corrosion resistance in saltwater, and come with the Command Thrust gearcase: a larger torpedo and bigger diameter prop that lift heavy loads onto plane more easily without hurting top speed. If your 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro is going to run long hours in salt with a heavy boat, those are exactly the things you want.

What Command Thrust actually does

Command Thrust is Mercury’s name for a heavier duty lower unit fitted to some small and mid size outboards. On the 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro it brings three changes. First, a bigger gearcase with a lower 2.42:1 gear ratio, so the propeller turns slower but with much more torque. Second, a larger 4 blade high thrust propeller, around 20% bigger than the standard prop, which grabs more water. Third, an oversized anti ventilation plate and a taller gearcase that put the prop deeper below the turbulent water at the stern, so it keeps its grip.

The result is a motor that pushes heavy, wide boats with far more authority, holds a steady low trolling speed, stops and reverses more positively, and copes better when the stern pitches in a swell. You give up a little top speed on light boats, which is why Command Thrust models are aimed at sailboats, pontoons, heavier jon boats and kicker use rather than light planing skiffs.

What electronic fuel injection means for you

The 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro 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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro 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.

Getting the propeller right

The propeller is the part of your 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro that actually turns engine power into movement, and the right one makes a big difference. The goal is simple: with your boat loaded the way you normally use it, the engine should reach the top of its recommended full throttle rpm range. If it can’t get there, the prop pitch is too high and the engine is labouring. If it goes past the top of the range, the pitch is too low and the engine is over revving.

As a rough guide, each inch of pitch changes full throttle rpm by around 150 to 200 rpm. Heavier loads and bigger boats usually want less pitch. Lighter, faster boats can take more. If you mainly carry heavy loads or tow, a lower pitch prop helps. If you run light and want top speed, a higher pitch may suit. Tell us about your boat and how you use it, and we’ll help you choose.

Using your motor in saltwater

The 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro is rated for saltwater use, and Mercury builds its outboards with corrosion resistance in mind. Still, salt is hard on any engine, and a few habits make a big difference to how long your motor lasts.

• Flush the cooling system with fresh water after every saltwater trip, using a flushing attachment or muffs as the owner’s manual describes.
• Rinse the outside of the motor with fresh water, and wipe it down.
• Check the sacrificial anodes regularly and replace them when they’re about half worn. They protect the metal parts of your motor from corrosion.
• Tilt the motor out of the water when the boat is moored, if possible.
• Spray exposed metal parts under the cowl with a corrosion inhibitor from time to time.

Owners who follow those simple steps routinely get many years of service from their motors, even in hard saltwater use.

Trailering with your motor

Most owners of a motor like the 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro 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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro somewhere dry. Twenty minutes in autumn saves hours of frustration in spring.

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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro, 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.

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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro, 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.

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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro 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 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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro, 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 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro 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.

Alternatives to the 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro

40ELPTBT: a new SeaPro 40 with big tiller and power trim.

40ELGABT: new SeaPro 40 with gas assist tilt.

40ELHPT: new recreational tiller 40.

50ELHPT Command Thrust: more power with a big gearcase.

See our Mercury 40 HP section and the main Mercury outboard motors category.

40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro for sale: price and worldwide shipping

The current price of the 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro 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

• 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro, used, 267 hours
• Warranty cover as listed
• Any service history that came back with the engine

Ask us for photos, the serial number and the service records before you buy.

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.

40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro FAQ

Is this 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro new or used?

Used. It’s a lease return with 267 hours.

Does it have a warranty?

Yes, three years as listed. We confirm the terms in writing before sale.

Is it tiller or remote?

Tiller, with power trim.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for a delivered quote.

Order your 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro

A low hour commercial 40 at a used price, with warranty. Add the 40ELHPT Command Thrust Sea Pro to your cart now, or send us a question first. You can also compare it with the rest of our outboard motors for sale.