MERCURY 8 HP 8ELH OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor is a push button start, 20 inch long shaft twin cylinder four stroke with built in battery charging. It’s made for long shaft jon boats, skiffs and small pontoons, and it’s one of the most practical kicker and sailboat auxiliary motors you can buy. It comes with a 3.2 gallon fuel tank, and we have it for sale new, with the Mercury factory warranty, shipped worldwide.

If your boat has a 20 inch transom or bracket, you carry a battery, and you’d rather press a button than pull a cord, the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor ticks all three boxes. Here’s what it does, what it suits and how to get the best from it.

On this page:

• Why the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor
• What 8ELH means
• As a kicker
• As a sailboat auxiliary
• Features
• Specifications
• Maintenance
• Alternatives
• Price and shipping
• FAQ

Why the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor

Long shaft, electric start and charging is a combination that suits a lot of boats. Kickers on bigger fishing boats, auxiliaries on sailboats, and main motors on long shaft jon boats and small pontoons all tend to have taller transoms and a battery already on board. The Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor fits straight into that setup.

The engine is Mercury’s 208 cc inline twin four stroke with a single overhead cam, pressurised lubrication and thermostat controlled cooling. It runs smoothly and quietly, idles evenly for trolling, and the multi-function tiller puts shifting, throttle, steering and the stop switch in one hand.

The 12 volt, 76 watt, 6 amp charging system puts power back into your battery while you run. There’s a manual backup start in case the battery is ever flat. At about 93 pounds, it’s the heaviest of the 8 hp models, which is why it’s usually bought for boats where the motor stays mounted.

What “8ELH” means

• 8 is the horsepower.
• E is electric start.
• L means a 20 inch long shaft.
• H is tiller handle steering.

Other 8 hp versions: the 8EH (electric, short shaft), 8MLH (manual, long shaft) and 8MH (manual, short shaft).

The Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor as a trolling kicker

Big main engines don’t like idling for hours, and many can’t troll slowly enough for walleye, salmon or trout. A small kicker solves both problems. It trolls at a steady low speed all day, burns very little fuel, and saves hours on your main engine.

Electric start is a real advantage on a kicker. The motor is often mounted to one side and slightly awkward to reach, and you’ll start and stop it many times on a trolling day. Press the button and go. The charging system also helps keep your boat’s battery topped up while you troll, which matters when you’re running a fish finder and livewell for hours.

You can steer with the tiller or link the kicker to the main engine so you steer from the helm. And if the main engine ever fails, the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor will bring a mid size fishing boat home slowly. That peace of mind is worth a lot.

As a sailboat auxiliary

On trailer sailers and small keelboats, 8 hp gives you solid reserve for headwinds, tides and busy harbours. The long shaft keeps the prop in the water on a bracket. Reverse on the tiller makes docking easy. Electric start means you can fire it up quickly when you need it, for example when the wind drops near a lee shore, and the charging keeps your house battery healthy for lights and instruments.

Checking your shaft length

Measure from the top of the transom or bracket to the bottom of the hull. About 20 inches means this long shaft motor is right. About 15 inches means the 8EH. About 25 inches means extra long, like the 9.9EXLH Command Thrust.

Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor features

• Electric start with manual backup
• 12V 76W 6A charging system, standard
• 20 inch long shaft
• Smooth two cylinder four stroke engine
• Digital CD ignition with spark advance
• High grade marine alloy construction
• Stainless steel water pump housing
• Zinc coated water passages
• Rated for saltwater use
• Sacrificial zinc anodes and trim tab
• Multi-function tiller with forward, neutral and reverse
• Twist grip throttle with tension control
• Thermostat controlled cooling
• Auto ratchet tilt and trim
• Shallow water drive
• Quiet through propeller hub exhaust
• 3.2 gallon fuel tank and fuel line
• Start in gear protection
• Low oil pressure warning
• ESG over rev protection
• Safety lanyard stop switch
• Mercury Marine 3 year warranty

Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor specifications

For the manufacturer’s overview, see Mercury’s FourStroke outboards page. Ask us to confirm any detail for your unit.

Maintaining the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor

Fuel: fresh 87 octane with no more than 10% ethanol. Kickers and auxiliaries sit a lot, so disconnect the fuel 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.

Battery: keep terminals clean and tight; charge it over winter.

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

For boating safety basics, see the US Coast Guard boating safety site.

Buyer questions about the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor

“Electric or manual start for a kicker?”

If the kicker is easy to reach and you don’t mind pulling a cord, the manual 8MLH saves some money and weight. If it’s mounted where pulling the cord is awkward, or you’ll start and stop it many times a day, electric start is well worth it. The charging is a bonus on any boat with electronics.

“Can it share the main engine’s battery?”

Often yes, depending on your boat’s wiring. Many anglers run the kicker from the main starting battery or a house battery through a battery switch. The owner’s manual and a marine electrician can advise on the best setup for your boat.

“Is 8 hp enough to troll a 17 or 18 foot boat?”

For typical trolling speeds on mid size fishing boats, yes. In strong wind or on heavier boats you may want the 9.9 for more reserve. If you’re not sure, send us the boat details and we’ll give you an honest answer.

“Can I steer it from the helm?”

Yes, with a kicker connector bar that links the kicker to the main engine. That way you steer both from the wheel. It’s a popular addition for long trolling runs.

Setting it up

With help, mount the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor on the transom or kicker bracket, tighten both clamp screws firmly by hand and tie a safety line to the boat. Set the tilt with the auto ratchet so the motor runs close to vertical. Fit a secure, vented battery box away from the fuel tank and connect the battery cables as the owner’s manual shows. Connect and prime the fuel line, check the oil, clip on the lanyard, put it in neutral and press start. Check the cooling telltale, vary the throttle for the first couple of hours, and change the oil at 20 hours.

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 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor somewhere dry. Twenty minutes in autumn saves hours of frustration in spring.

Paperwork, warranty and keeping records

When your Mercury 8 HP 8ELH 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 8 HP 8ELH 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 8 HP 8ELH 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 8 HP 8ELH 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 8 HP 8ELH 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 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor

The walleye or salmon boat

An 17 to 19 foot fishing boat with a big main outboard and the 8ELH on a kicker bracket. The main engine gets you to the fishing grounds, the kicker takes over for hours of slow trolling. Push button starting makes moving between trolling passes painless, and the charging system helps the battery cope with a fish finder and livewell running all day.

The trailer sailer

A 22 foot trailer sailer with a cabin, a house battery for lights and a VHF, and a stern bracket. The Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor gives real power into a headwind, starts at the press of a button when the wind dies, and charges the house battery while it runs.

The small pontoon

A small pontoon on a lake, with a 20 inch transom and a family aboard. Electric start makes it easy for anyone to drive, and the twin cylinder engine is smooth and quiet for cruising.

Looking after the battery

Keep the terminals clean and the connections tight. Over the off season, remove the battery and keep it charged, ideally on a smart maintenance charger. A healthy battery means the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor starts first time when you come back to it.

Fuel use

Trolling for hours, a small twin like this uses very little fuel, and the 3.2 gallon tank lasts well. At higher speeds it naturally uses more. Easing off a touch from full throttle saves fuel with little loss of 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 8 HP 8ELH 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 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor

8MLH: the manual start version, lighter and simpler.

9.9ELH: same layout with a bit more power.

9.9ELHPT ProKicker: a purpose built kicker with power tilt and a Command Thrust gearcase.

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

Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor for sale: price and worldwide shipping

The price of the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor is at the top of this page. Add it to your cart, or contact us for a delivered quote.

In the box

• Mercury 8 HP 8ELH 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

A battery isn’t included.

Shipping

We ship worldwide by courier or freight, securely packed and tracked. We’ll explain import duty and taxes before you pay if you ask.

Buying from us

Read our refund and return policy, see our customer reviews, and visit the about page.

Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor FAQ

Is the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor good as a kicker?

Yes, it’s an excellent kicker size, and electric start makes it easy to use.

Does it charge a battery?

Yes, 12V 76W 6A as standard.

What shaft length?

20 inches, long shaft.

How heavy is it?

About 93 pounds.

Is it new?

Yes, with the full Mercury factory warranty.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for a delivered quote.

Order your Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor

Long shaft, push button start and battery charging on a smooth twin cylinder engine. Add the Mercury 8 HP 8ELH outboard motor to your cart, or ask us a question. You can also browse all our outboard motors for sale.