Canonical URL: https://www.mercuryrepower.ca/blog/mercury-outboard-rigging-costs-ontario --- ## Quick Answer Rigging costs vary significantly by job. A like-for-like Mercury-to-Mercury swap on post-2010 controls can land under $1,500. A full re-rig, new gauges, harness,...
Canonical URL: https://www.mercuryrepower.ca/blog/mercury-outboard-rigging-costs-ontario
Quick Answer
Rigging costs vary significantly by job. A like-for-like Mercury-to-Mercury swap on post-2010 controls can land under $1,500. A full re-rig, new gauges, harness, controls, and steering, runs $3,000, $6,000. We quote rigging line by line, no surprises. Build an installed quote with rigging spelled out at mercuryrepower.ca.
Where the money goes
What's actually in a Mercury rigging quote?
Rigging is everything between the motor and the boat. Typical 90 to 115 HP Mercury-to-Mercury repower with post-2010 controls in good condition.
Throttle and shift control (if replaced)$400 - $900
Often kept on post-2010 Mercury-to-Mercury. Brand conversions need new.
Steering (cable, kept or refreshed)$200 - $600
Hydraulic upgrade adds $1,650 to $3,500 and is usually worth doing while the dash is open.
Wiring harness and connectors$150 - $400
Mercury harness post-2010 usually carries over. Brand swap requires a full new harness.
Gauges or SmartCraft display$0 - $1,200
Compatible existing gauges stay for free. SmartCraft VesselView adds several hundred to $1,200+.
Fuel hose, primer bulb, water-separator filter$80 - $200
Replaced on every repower as cheap insurance against old fuel parts hurting a new motor.
Propeller (aluminum 3-blade, 90 to 115 HP)$400 - $500
Stainless 3 or 4-blade for 150 HP and up runs $800 to $2,000. We pitch-test on sea-trial.
Install labour (Mercury-to-Mercury, post-2010)$700 - $1,400
Mount, hang, torque, hook up, bench-test, water-test. Brand conversions add 4 to 8 hours.
Typical Mercury-to-Mercury 90-115 HP rigging total$1,900 - $5,200 CAD
Before HST. Brand conversions add $1,500 to $3,000. Hydraulic steering upgrade adds $1,650 to $3,500. Get the line-by-line at mercuryrepower.ca.
Full Article
"Rigging cost" is one of the most misunderstood line items in a repower quote. Some customers assume the motor is the whole purchase. Others expect rigging to cost a flat rate. Neither assumption tends to survive contact with the actual job.
Here's what rigging actually is, what goes into the cost, and what you can do to keep it at the low end.
What "Rigging" Actually Covers
Mercury rigging is everything between the motor and the boat: throttle and shift controls, steering, wiring harness, gauges, fuel hose, battery cables, and prop. The list is longer than most customers expect.
Throttle and shift control
Console-mounted lever on most boats. Mercury Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) on higher-HP configurations. For Mercury-to-Mercury repowers with post-2010 controls in good shape, often kept. Older or non-Mercury controls are typically replaced.
Steering
Three types: cable steering (standard under 90 HP, simple, inexpensive), hydraulic steering (standard at 90 HP and up, more comfortable, less maintenance), and power-assist (premium on bigger motors). Cable-to-hydraulic upgrades are common during repowers and are worth doing while the dash is open.
Hydraulic steering conversion costs $1,650, $3,500 CAD depending on motor HP and helm complexity.
Wiring harness
Connects motor to controls, gauges, and battery. Mercury standardized harness connectors across motor families around 2010, so Mercury-to-Mercury repowers usually keep the harness if it's in good condition. Brand conversions need a new harness.
Gauges and displays
Older analog gauges (tach, fuel, water temp) often don't fully support modern Mercury motor data outputs. Mercury SmartCraft digital displays integrate engine data cleanly. Third-party multifunction displays (Garmin, Lowrance, Raymarine) integrate via NMEA 2000. Keeping compatible existing displays is free; adding a SmartCraft VesselView adds several hundred dollars depending on screen size.
Battery cables and switches
Heavier cable for higher-HP motors. Battery switch and dual-battery selectors replaced as needed.
Fuel hose and connections
Fuel line, primer bulb, fuel filter. Typically replaced during a repower regardless of apparent condition, fuel system age affects new motor reliability, and these parts are cheap insurance.
Propeller
Aluminum 3-blade (approximately $450 CAD) for motors up to 115 HP. Stainless 3 or 4-blade ($800, $2,000 CAD) for 150 HP and up. We test props during sea trial of every repower and swap until the motor reaches its rated WOT RPM range.
2026 Rigging Cost Ranges by Scenario
| Scenario |
Rigging Cost (CAD, before HST) |
| Mercury-to-Mercury, post-2010 controls in good shape |
$500, $1,500 |
| Mercury-to-Mercury, older/worn rigging needing replacement |
$1,500, $3,000 |
| Brand conversion (Evinrude, Yamaha, Honda to Mercury) |
Add $1,500, $3,000 over standard |
| Cable to hydraulic steering upgrade |
Add $1,650, $3,500 |
| Full new re-rig (everything new) |
$2,500, $5,000 |
These ranges are before prop and installation labour. The live configurator at mercuryrepower.ca builds rigging into the all-in quote.
What Changes Your Rigging Cost
Five things move your quote up or down the range:
1. Existing rigging condition. A 5-year-old Mercury rerig with controls and harness in good shape stays at the low end. A 25-year-old boat with cracked cables and corroded connectors hits the high end.
2. Existing rigging brand. Mercury-to-Mercury saves significantly. Brand conversions add $1,500, $3,000 because every control system component swaps.
3. Steering type and upgrade decisions. Keeping existing cable steering is cheaper. Upgrading to hydraulic adds meaningfully but is often worth doing during the repower while the dash is already open. Future upgrades to hydraulic are more expensive and disruptive than doing it during the current job.
4. Display upgrades. Keeping existing displays if compatible is free. Adding a Mercury SmartCraft VesselView adds several hundred to over $1,000 depending on size and configuration.
5. Fuel system condition. Old fuel hoses and gummed-up filters get replaced. Boats stored with ethanol pump gas sometimes need more than basic hose replacement.
Mercury-to-Mercury vs. Brand Conversion, The Cost Difference
| Component |
Mercury-to-Mercury (post-2010) |
Brand Conversion |
| Throttle and shift control |
Often kept |
New required |
| Wiring harness |
Often kept |
New required |
| Gauges or displays |
Often kept |
New or adapted |
| Steering |
Either kept or upgraded |
Often replaced |
| Battery cables |
Inspected, replaced as needed |
Inspected, replaced as needed |
| Fuel hose |
Replaced |
Replaced |
| Propeller |
New, sized for new motor |
New, sized for new motor |
| Total rigging premium |
Baseline |
+$1,500, $3,000 CAD |
You can build a live CAD quote for your repower online at Mercury Repower Centre.
What We Inspect During the Rigging Assessment
When we walk around a boat for a repower quote, we look at:
- Throttle and shift control age, brand, and condition
- Steering type, age, and condition (visible leaks, smoothness, helm feel)
- Wiring harness condition (corrosion, cracks, brand compatibility)
- Gauge or display age and connectivity with new motor
- Battery cable gauge and condition
- Fuel hose age, filter location, tank vent condition
- Existing prop condition (damage, pitch fit)
- Trim/tilt system function
The walk-around is free. The findings determine where in the range your quote lands.
Common Rigging Cost Mistakes
Trying to keep rigging at end of life. Saving $1,500 by reusing 20-year-old controls is not a saving if the throttle cable fails and takes the new motor with it. Pay once.
Skipping the prop conversation. A new motor with a wrong prop loses meaningful performance and fuel economy. The right prop is part of rigging.
Underestimating brand conversion cost. "I'm just switching from Yamaha to Mercury" sounds simple. The actual rigging difference is $1,500, $3,000 over standard. Budget for it.
Forgetting the steering upgrade math. If your cable steering is at end of life and you know you'll upgrade eventually, the cheapest moment is during the repower, the dash is already open.
DIY partial rigging on a brand conversion. Brand conversions have enough system interaction (throttle mapping, harness compatibility, sensor calibration) that partial DIY rigging regularly causes problems that cost more to fix than the initial savings.
What we see at HBW
Rigging costs depend almost entirely on what's on the boat now. If existing controls match the new motor's connector type, rigging adds $400-800. If we're upgrading to digital throttle, swapping harnesses, or replacing throttle/shift cables, the rigging bill can hit $2-4K.
The hidden cost: SmartCraft display. Most repower customers want the data screen, which adds $1,200-2,000 with install. Optional but worth it for fuel-burn and engine-data visibility. We don't push it unless the customer asks.
Related guides
FAQs
What is included in Mercury outboard rigging?
Throttle and shift controls, steering, wiring harness, gauges or display, battery cables and switches, fuel hose and filter, and propeller. Everything connecting the motor to the boat's systems.
How much does Mercury rigging cost in Ontario?
Mercury-to-Mercury on post-2010 controls in good condition: $500, $1,500 CAD. Brand conversion or full re-rig: $2,500, $5,000 CAD. Hydraulic steering upgrade adds $1,650, $3,500 CAD. All before HST.
Is rigging included in the quote from mercuryrepower.ca?
Yes. The configurator builds the rigging cost into the all-in installed price.
Can I keep my existing controls if I'm upgrading to a newer Mercury?
Mercury-to-Mercury repowers with post-2010 controls in good condition usually carry over. We assess during the hull walk-around.
Why does a brand conversion cost more to rig?
Evinrude, Yamaha, and Honda controls, harnesses, and wiring are not compatible with Mercury. The entire control system needs to swap, adding $1,500, $3,000 CAD to the rigging bill.
When should I upgrade from cable to hydraulic steering?
Hydraulic steering is standard at 90 HP and up. If your existing cable steering is worn or you're stepping up in HP, the repower is the least expensive time to upgrade, the dash is already open.
Does rigging include the propeller?
Yes. We size the prop to the motor and hull during sea trial. If a prop swap is needed to hit the motor's rated WOT RPM range, we do it before delivery.
Is the rigging quote fixed before the job starts?
We quote rigging based on the walk-around assessment. Occasionally, hidden issues (corroded connections, cracked hose behind a panel) surface during the install that require additional work. We contact the customer before proceeding with anything beyond the agreed scope.
Internal Links
CTA
Ready for an honest rigging quote? Build a quote at mercuryrepower.ca, rigging is included in the all-in number, line by line.
Prefer to talk through your specific boat's rigging condition first? Call 905-342-2153 or come in for a free walk-around.
Ready to price it out? Build a live CAD quote for your repower online at the Mercury Repower Centre.
