Mercury rigging is everything between the motor and the boat: throttle and shift controls, steering, wiring harness, gauges, fuel hose, battery cables, and prop. For a typical Mercury-to-Mercury repower with post-2010 controls in good condition, rigging lands $500 to $1,500...
- How much does Mercury rigging cost?
- For Mercury-to-Mercury repowers with post-2010 controls in good shape, rigging lands $500 to $1,500 CAD. Brand conversions add $1,500 to $3,000. Full rerigs (everything new) run $2,500 to $5,000. Specific quote at /quote/motor-selection.
- What's included in rigging?
- Throttle and shift controls, steering system, wiring harness, gauges or displays, battery cables, fuel hose and connections, propeller, and trim/tilt system. Plus install labor.
- Can I keep my existing rigging during a Mercury repower?
- Often yes for Mercury-to-Mercury repowers with rigging less than 15 years old. Brand conversions need new everything. We assess during the hull walk-around.
- Why do brand conversions cost more in rigging?
- Mercury controls, harness, and gauges are not compatible with Yamaha, Honda, Evinrude, or other brands. Brand conversion requires new control system, new harness, often new gauges, and sometimes new steering. Adds $1,500 to $3,000 over Mercury-to-Mercury.
- Should I upgrade from cable to hydraulic steering during a repower?
- For motors 90 HP and up, hydraulic is the modern standard and is worth the upgrade if your current cable steering is older than 10 years. Adds $1,650 to $3,500. Cheapest time to do it is during repower while dash is open.
- What's Mercury SmartCraft and do I need it?
- SmartCraft is Mercury's digital data and display system. VesselView 4/7/9 displays show motor data (RPM, fuel, oil, alerts) digitally. For modern Mercury motors, SmartCraft connectivity is built in. Whether you need a VesselView display depends on whether you want digital gauges or are happy with analog.
- How much does a new Mercury propeller cost?
- Aluminum 3-blade: typically $450 CAD for motors up to 115 HP. Stainless 3 or 4-blade: $800 to $2,000 for 150 HP and up. The right prop is determined during sea-trial.
- Can I DIY my Mercury rigging?
- Some service yes (oil changes, prop swaps, gauge cleaning). Throttle/shift integration, harness routing, brand conversions, and any wiring should be done by a Mercury-certified technician. DIY rigging mistakes can damage the new motor or void warranty.
- What if my current fuel hose is fine?
- We replace fuel hoses on most repowers because old fuel hoses can degrade and contaminate the new motor's fuel system. If your fuel hose is genuinely new (under 5 years and in great shape), we'll keep it. Most aren't.
- Do I need new battery cables?
- Heavier-gauge cables are needed for higher-HP motors. If your existing cables are properly sized and in good condition, often kept. We inspect and replace as needed.
- How long does the rigging install take?
- For Mercury-to-Mercury repowers, rigging is part of the 2 to 4 day shop time. Brand conversions take longer (typically 4 to 6 days) because of the additional rigging work. Spring rush adds wait time before the shop starts.
- Can I get rigging without a new motor?
- Yes for some applications. We do rigging refresh projects (new controls, new harness, new prop) without motor replacement on customers who want to extend the life of their existing rigging. Contact us for quotes.
- What rigging components fail most often?
- In order of frequency: fuel hoses (degrade with age and ethanol), throttle/shift cables (wear from use), corroded battery terminals, leaking trim/tilt rams, cracked harness connectors. We inspect all of these during every service.