What's the difference between Mercury Pro XS and FourStroke?

Both are four-stroke outboards, Pro XS is not a two-stroke. The difference is tuning and gearcase. Pro XS uses a lower gear ratio, a higher max RPM, a Sport Master or similar performance gearcase on bigger HPs, and a calibration tuned for hard throttle response. FourStroke is tuned for smooth cruise, fuel economy, and quiet operation. On the water, Pro XS jumps onto plane faster and pulls harder out of the hole. FourStroke is more relaxed and burns less fuel at the same cruise speed. For tournament-style fishing or boats that need to clear a weed line fast, Pro XS earns its premium. For pontoon and family runabouts, FourStroke is usually the right call.

Is the Mercury 150 Pro XS a V6?

No. The 150 Pro XS is an inline-4. The remaining Pro XS V6 rating is the 175. The 200, 225, 250, and 300 Pro XS are V8. The 150 Pro XS weighs 207 kg (456 lb) dry, about 9 kg (19 lb) less than the 175 Pro XS V6 at 216 kg (475 lb), and about 25 kg (55 lb) less than the 200 - 300 Pro XS V8 at 232 kg (511 lb). That matters on smaller bass boats and aluminum tournament hulls where transom weight is a real consideration. If you specifically want a V6 Pro XS, you're looking at 175 HP. If you specifically want the lightest performance Mercury at 150 HP, the inline-4 Pro XS is it.

How much does a Pro XS repower cost in Ontario?

It depends on HP, rigging, and what's reusable on your boat. The 175 - 250 HP Pro XS range spans the 175 HP V6 and the 200 - 250 HP V8 models. A complete repower may also require controls, gauges, a propeller allowance, steering, installation labour, and taxes. A 300 Pro XS V8 build sits higher, while a 150 Pro XS inline-4 build sits lower. For a real CAD number on your specific boat, use the quote builder at mercuryrepower.ca.

Do I need Command Thrust on my Pro XS?

Pro XS is a performance motor for planing V-hull bass and angler boats. Command Thrust is a hull, load, and propeller choice. HBW's shop recommendation for most Rice Lake and Kawartha angler boats is the standard-gearcase Pro XS; that is a preference, not a universal V-hull ban. If you want more low-speed trolling control, add a 9.9 or 15 HP ProKicker (the ProKicker CT gearcase is a legitimate trolling-motor configuration).

How long does a Pro XS repower take at HBW?

There are two clocks: motor and rigging availability, then the scheduled shop work. HBW confirms the installation window after reviewing the boat, required parts, current shop capacity, and safe test conditions. Complete the service request at hbwservice.ca, then drop off your boat anytime, including after hours. HBW confirms the work schedule separately.

Can I repower a 1990s bass boat with a modern Pro XS?

Often yes, but the transom and stringers have to be sound. We see a lot of 1990s and early-2000s rigs that are perfect repower candidates, solid hulls, good layouts, just tired motors. We also see a few where the transom is soft, the stringers are wet, or the hull is rated under the HP the owner wants. The first step is an honest assessment: we look at the transom, the rigging tunnels, the fuel system, and the hull rating. If everything checks out, a modern Pro XS is a massive upgrade in reliability, fuel economy, and quiet running over a 1990s two-stroke V6. If the boat isn't worth it, we'll tell you.

What's the warranty on a Mercury Pro XS?

Mercury Pro XS comes with the applicable Mercury limited warranty in Canada. Optional Mercury Product Protection Platinum can extend eligible factory warranty plus paid protection for several years, with the maximum combined term set by Mercury's current program rules. HBW verifies the serial record, available term and current promotion before registration. As a Mercury Premier dealer, HBW handles warranty and Product Protection claims in-house.

Does HBW finance repowers?

Yes, on repowers above $5,000 CAD. We arrange financing through DealerPlan, with rates that depend on the financed amount and the current offer. There's also a small DealerPlan fee added to the financed total. Repowers under $5,000 don't qualify for financing through this program. The fastest way to see your actual numbers, payment, term options, total interest, is to run a quote at mercuryrepower.ca and select the financing option.

Mercury Pro XS Repower for Rice Lake & Kawartha Anglers

--- ## What "Pro XS" actually means Pro XS is Mercury's tournament and performance line. It's still a four-stroke, the days of the screaming Pro XS two-strokes are behind us, but the tuning is different from a standard FourStroke. The differences that matter on the water: -...

Angler driving a bass boat with a Mercury Pro XS outboard on a misty morning, ideal for Rice Lake and Kawartha fishing.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-06

Mercury Premier Dealer·Gores Landing, ON·Quote builder available

Quick answer: Mercury Pro XS is the angler-focused outboard family across 115–300 HP. For Rice Lake and Kawartha bass, walleye, and muskie boats, the sweet spot is usually 175 HP V6 or 200–225 HP V8 Pro XS, strong hole-shot, fuel-efficient cruise, and proven reliability. The 150 Pro XS is inline-4 (lighter); 200 and above are V8. The right choice depends on hull rating, fishing style, and budget. Quote: mercuryrepower.ca.

What "Pro XS" actually means

Pro XS is Mercury's tournament and performance line. It's still a four-stroke, the days of the screaming Pro XS two-strokes are behind us, but the tuning is different from a standard FourStroke.

The differences that matter on the water:

Lower gear ratio for harder hole-shot and quicker plane.
Higher max RPM ceiling so the motor pulls cleanly all the way through the throttle range.
Tuned calibration that responds instantly to the throttle instead of easing in.
Performance gearcase (Sport Master or similar on the bigger HPs) that handles high-RPM water and aggressive prop choices.

The 115 and 150 Pro XS are inline-four. The remaining V6 rating is the 175. The 200, 225, 250, and 300 Pro XS are 4.6 L V8. The 150 is meaningfully lighter than the V6 and V8 models, which is why it shows up on smaller aluminum bass boats.

The trade for that response: Pro XS isn't a fuel miser. The trade is fuel for response. Tournament anglers happily make that trade. Weekend cruisers usually shouldn't.

Why anglers repower to Pro XS

The anglers we see repowering to Pro XS are usually moving from one of three places:

Old two-stroke V6 (mid-90s to early 2000s Mercury, OMC, Yamaha). The two-stroke is loud, smoky, fuel-hungry, and getting harder to keep parts for. A modern Pro XS makes more usable power, burns less fuel, runs quieter, and starts every time.

FourStroke that doesn't have the punch they want. A FourStroke 200 will get a 19-foot bass boat on plane just fine. A 200 Pro XS will get the same boat on plane noticeably faster, with a sharper throttle response, and a higher top end. For tournament anglers who clear weed lines on Rice Lake and run between spots on Stoney or Buckhorn, that difference is real.

Tired older Pro XS. The Optimax-era Pro XS earned a strong reputation. Owners coming out of those motors usually want the modern Pro XS because the response and the sound profile they remember are still there, plus modern reliability and fuel efficiency.

The other reason matters less in marketing copy but a lot in real life: having a Mercury Premier Dealer on the lake means you've got a local shop that can actually fix things. That's why so many Kawartha anglers repower with us specifically.

Choosing your Pro XS HP

Which Pro XS for your fishing?

Hull rating is the hard limit. After that, fishing style decides.

115–150 Pro XS

Smaller bass boats (16–17 ft aluminum or fiberglass)
Single-angler or two-angler max
Tight-water lakes and weed-edge fishing
150 Pro XS = inline-4, lighter rigged package

Best for light, tight-water bass rigs

175–225 Pro XS

18–20 ft aluminum or fiberglass angler hulls
Multi-lake days across Rice, Pigeon, Stoney
Two- or three-up fishing, full livewells
Top end varies by hull, load, and setup; ask us for real-world numbers on your rig

Sweet spot for most Kawartha anglers

When in doubt:Most Rice Lake and Kawartha anglers land on a 200 or 225 Pro XS V8 with the standard gearcase.

The 250 and 300 Pro XS belong on 20–22 ft tournament rigs, multi-species tournament boats, or anglers who run the Trent-Severn at speed. The 300 is V8, heaviest, fastest, and most expensive to operate. If that's the boat you fish, you already know it. If you're not sure, you probably don't need it.

Command Thrust on Pro XS

Short version: Command Thrust is a hull, load, and propeller choice, not a universal V-hull ban. HBW's shop recommendation for most planing V-hull angler and bass boats we see, even loaded three-up with a full livewell, tackle, and electronics, is still the standard gearcase.

Other dealers commonly spec CT on those boats claiming "more torque." Ask for the actual boat, prop, and test result. Standard gearcase Pro XS is the usual HBW call for Rice Lake and Kawartha angler boats.

If you want more low-speed control for trolling, that's what a 9.9 or 15 HP ProKicker is for (the ProKicker CT gearcase is a legitimate trolling-motor configuration). Pro XS CT itself only makes sense on the narrow pontoon/workboat applications the CT gearcase was engineered for, and even there it's a niche pick.

Fuel economy reality check

Pro XS isn't a fuel miser. That has to be said honestly.

Fuel use depends on hull, load, propeller, RPM, and conditions. Compare on-boat fuel-flow readings at the same speed, or a dated Mercury performance report for a comparable hull, before treating one family as cheaper to run.

For a tournament angler running 60 km in a day, the response wins, you're not buying the motor for fuel economy, you're buying it for hole-shot and top-end. For a weekend fisherman who runs to one spot, anchors, and fishes for six hours, FourStroke makes more sense. Same hull, same HP, less fuel, more quiet, less money up front.

Honest framing matters. We sell both because they're both right for different people.

Black Pro XS outboard on the transom of a silver bass boat on misty water at sunrise, with spray trailing behind

Hole-shot, top-end, and where they matter

Different Kawartha water rewards different things:

Rice Lake: weed lines and shallow flats. Hole-shot dominates. You're up-and-over, not flat-out. Pro XS shines.
Stoney, Buckhorn, Pigeon: bigger water, longer spot-to-spot runs. Top-end matters more. A 200 or 225 Pro XS V8 is the sweet spot.
Trent-Severn cruising: lock-to-lock running with fuel range as a constraint. Top-end and fuel range both matter. A 200 or 225 Pro XS sized to your hull is hard to beat.
Cold-water muskie water: heavier rigs, bigger props, harder to plane. Size to your hull's capacity plate, and the best fit is usually one model below the plate maximum.

Match the HP to the water you actually fish, not the water you fished once on a road trip.

Repower cost reality

A Pro XS repower isn't just the motor. The line items add up:

Motor (the biggest line)
Rigging kit (controls, harnesses, throttle/shift)
Gauges (digital SmartCraft displays where applicable)
Prop (stainless for performance hulls)
Steering (hydraulic on most 175+ Pro XS installs; confirm the exact engine and helm)
Install labour
Lake test and tuning
Taxes

Installed cost depends on HP, rigging, and what we can reuse from the existing setup. A 150 Pro XS inline-4 build sits lower. A 300 Pro XS V8 build sits higher.

Don't budget off this paragraph. Run a real quote at mercuryrepower.ca, the quote builder uses our actual pricing, accounts for what we can reuse from your existing setup, and shows financing options if applicable. Numbers in CAD, no surprises.

HBW process for a Pro XS repower

The practical walk-through:

Assessment. You bring the boat in (or send photos and specs if you're trailering from far). We check the transom, stringers, fuel system, rigging tunnels, and hull rating. We confirm the HP you want fits the hull.
Quote. We build a real CAD quote with motor, rigging, prop, steering, install, and taxes. Financing options laid out if you want them.
Order. Motor goes on order with Mercury. Lead time depends on HP, shaft length, and current allocation.
Install. Two to four working days in the shop once motor and parts are in hand. Rigging done clean, not over the top of the old harness.
Lake test. We run the boat on Rice Lake, set throttle and shift, confirm WOT RPM is in spec, and prop accordingly.
Handoff. Walk-through on the new motor, paperwork, warranty registration, and how to use SmartCraft features if you're new to them.

Most anglers plan repowers over the winter so the boat is ready for opening day. We take orders all winter (the shop itself is closed December 1 through April 1), lead times are shorter, and you're not losing fishing days.

When NOT to go Pro XS

Honest counter-positioning. Pro XS is the wrong answer if:

You fish leisurely, never tournament. A FourStroke at the same HP costs less, burns less fuel, runs quieter, and does the job.
Your hull is rated lower than the Pro XS HP you want. Hull rating is a hard limit. We won't repower over the rating, and you shouldn't either.
The boat is 25+ years old with a questionable transom. A wet transom or rotted stringers means repower money is going into a hull that won't outlast the motor. In that case, the honest answer is to look at a new boat or a serious hull repair before the motor decision. See our boat hull replacement vs repower decision guide for how we walk through that call with customers.

About the author

Jay Harris helps run Harris Boat Works, a third-generation family marina in Gores Landing on Rice Lake, established in 1947. HBW is a Mercury Marine Premier Dealer and Legend Boats dealer serving Rice Lake, the Kawarthas, and Ontario boaters who want straight answers before spending real money. Read Jay's full bio.

Related guide: Boat trim basics for Rice Lake.

Related guide: DTS vs mechanical controls, what Pro XS buyers should know.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Mercury Pro XS and FourStroke?: Both are four-stroke outboards, Pro XS is not a two-stroke. The difference is tuning and gearcase. Pro XS uses a lower gear ratio, a higher max RPM, a Sport Master or similar performance gearcase on bigger HPs, and a calibration tuned for hard throttle response. FourStroke is tuned for smooth cruise, fuel economy, and quiet operation. On the water, Pro XS jumps onto plane faster and pulls harder out of the hole. FourStroke is more relaxed and burns less fuel at the same cruise speed. For tournament-style fishing or boats that need to clear a weed line fast, Pro XS earns its premium. For pontoon and family runabouts, FourStroke is usually the right call.
Is the Mercury 150 Pro XS a V6?: No. The 150 Pro XS is an inline-4. The remaining Pro XS V6 rating is the 175. The 200, 225, 250, and 300 Pro XS are V8. The 150 Pro XS weighs 207 kg (456 lb) dry, about 9 kg (19 lb) less than the 175 Pro XS V6 at 216 kg (475 lb), and about 25 kg (55 lb) less than the 200 - 300 Pro XS V8 at 232 kg (511 lb). That matters on smaller bass boats and aluminum tournament hulls where transom weight is a real consideration. If you specifically want a V6 Pro XS, you're looking at 175 HP. If you specifically want the lightest performance Mercury at 150 HP, the inline-4 Pro XS is it.
How much does a Pro XS repower cost in Ontario?: It depends on HP, rigging, and what's reusable on your boat. The 175 - 250 HP Pro XS range spans the 175 HP V6 and the 200 - 250 HP V8 models. A complete repower may also require controls, gauges, a propeller allowance, steering, installation labour, and taxes. A 300 Pro XS V8 build sits higher, while a 150 Pro XS inline-4 build sits lower. For a real CAD number on your specific boat, use the quote builder at mercuryrepower.ca.
Do I need Command Thrust on my Pro XS?: Pro XS is a performance motor for planing V-hull bass and angler boats. Command Thrust is a hull, load, and propeller choice. HBW's shop recommendation for most Rice Lake and Kawartha angler boats is the standard-gearcase Pro XS; that is a preference, not a universal V-hull ban. If you want more low-speed trolling control, add a 9.9 or 15 HP ProKicker (the ProKicker CT gearcase is a legitimate trolling-motor configuration).
How long does a Pro XS repower take at HBW?: There are two clocks: motor and rigging availability, then the scheduled shop work. HBW confirms the installation window after reviewing the boat, required parts, current shop capacity, and safe test conditions. Complete the service request at hbwservice.ca, then drop off your boat anytime, including after hours. HBW confirms the work schedule separately.
Can I repower a 1990s bass boat with a modern Pro XS?: Often yes, but the transom and stringers have to be sound. We see a lot of 1990s and early-2000s rigs that are perfect repower candidates, solid hulls, good layouts, just tired motors. We also see a few where the transom is soft, the stringers are wet, or the hull is rated under the HP the owner wants. The first step is an honest assessment: we look at the transom, the rigging tunnels, the fuel system, and the hull rating. If everything checks out, a modern Pro XS is a massive upgrade in reliability, fuel economy, and quiet running over a 1990s two-stroke V6. If the boat isn't worth it, we'll tell you.
What's the warranty on a Mercury Pro XS?: Mercury Pro XS comes with the applicable Mercury limited warranty in Canada. Optional Mercury Product Protection Platinum can extend eligible factory warranty plus paid protection for several years, with the maximum combined term set by Mercury's current program rules. HBW verifies the serial record, available term and current promotion before registration. As a Mercury Premier dealer, HBW handles warranty and Product Protection claims in-house.
Does HBW finance repowers?: Yes, on repowers above $5,000 CAD. We arrange financing through DealerPlan, with rates that depend on the financed amount and the current offer. There's also a small DealerPlan fee added to the financed total. Repowers under $5,000 don't qualify for financing through this program. The fastest way to see your actual numbers, payment, term options, total interest, is to run a quote at mercuryrepower.ca and select the financing option.

Harris Boat Works · 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON · (905) 342-2153

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