Do I need to bring my boat to HBW for the walk-around?

For Rice Lake and Kawartha-area customers, we can do walk-arounds at your dock or storage location. For longer-distance customers, photos and a phone call work for initial assessment, then bring the boat to HBW for the actual quote and repower.

What happens if my transom has soft spots?

We contact you with options: fix transom now and proceed with repower, fix transom and delay repower until done, or step back and reconsider whether the hull is worth keeping. Most transoms are solid; this is a small percentage of cases.

What if my Mercury can't reach rated RPM during sea-trial?

We change the prop and re-test. Pitch is the most common issue. Sometimes the right prop is the second or third one we try. The right prop is the one that lets the motor reach mid-band of its rated WOT RPM with typical loading. See our propeller selection guide.

What's included in the repower price?

The all-in price on the motor selection page includes motor, rigging, prop, install labor, sea-trial, and Mercury warranty registration. PCL update paperwork is also handled. HST (13%) is added at quote completion.

Hull repairs (transom, fiberglass, structural), trade-in valuation (handled separately), trailer service or replacement, electronics upgrades beyond what came with the boat, and ongoing maintenance after the warranty's first service interval.

When can I use my boat after pickup?

Right away, with the 10-hour break-in protocol. The first hour at no-wake speed and gradual RPM increase. Vary throttle. Avoid sustained WOT for the first 10 hours. See our breaking in guide.

When's my first service after the repower?

20-hour oil and filter change. We book this at delivery so it's not forgotten. After that, normal Mercury service intervals (annual at minimum, more frequent for heavy use).

Can I trade in my old motor during the repower?

Yes. We give fair-market trade-in value applied to the new motor purchase. Specific value depends on motor age, condition, and demand. Some old motors have significant trade-in value; some are essentially scrap.

What if something's wrong after pickup?

We stand behind the work. Call us. Common post-pickup issues are minor (loose connection, hose adjustment, prop fine-tune) and resolved quickly. Major issues are rare and covered under warranty.

When should I book a repower for a spring launch?

Motor lead times vary by model and season, and spring is busy. If you are planning a spring launch, the time to book is well before ice-out, not the week before. Start with a quote at mercuryrepower.ca and contact us to confirm availability for your slot.

What Happens During a Mercury Repower (Step-by-Step Process)

Canonical URL: https://www.mercuryrepower.ca/blog/what-happens-during-mercury-repower --- Mercury repower process timeline at HBW (diagram) ## Quick Answer A typical Mercury repower at HBW: configurator quote, phone call if needed, deposit, drop-off in Gores Landing, motor...

Mercury Platinum Dealer·Family-owned since 1947·Mercury dealer since 1965·Gores Landing, ON·Quote builder available

Canonical URL: https://www.mercuryrepower.ca/blog/what-happens-during-mercury-repower

Mercury repower process timeline at HBW (diagram)

Quick Answer

A typical Mercury repower at HBW: configurator quote, phone call if needed, deposit, drop-off in Gores Landing, motor mount and rigging, sea trial on Rice Lake, pickup with break-in coaching. Most jobs are 7-14 days at the shop once scheduled. Spring rush adds 2-4 weeks of lead time. Start at mercuryrepower.ca.

Full Article

Most customers don't know what actually happens during a repower. That's worth fixing, because knowing the process helps you plan around realistic timelines, ask better questions during the quote, and recognize when a shop is skipping something important.

A repower isn't just bolting a new motor to your boat. It's a full integration project. The shop time is short; the inspection and verification work is what determines whether you get 20 years from the new motor or 5.

What Changes the Timeline

Mercury-to-Mercury vs. brand conversion. Mercury-to-Mercury: 2-4 days of shop time. Brand conversion (Evinrude, Yamaha, Honda to Mercury): 4-6 days, because of the additional rigging work.

Hull condition. A solid hull is fast. A transom with soft spots needs additional work or won't pass our inspection until it's addressed.

Motor availability. Common HP classes and configurations are typically in stock or on quick order. Less common configurations may have factory wait times.

Time of year. Off-season (October-April): fast shop turnaround and good booking availability. Spring rush (March-May): waits of 2-6 weeks before the shop can start.

Customer responsiveness. Quote, deposit, drop-off, and pickup all need customer involvement. The faster you respond at each step, the faster the timeline.

The Full Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Hull Walk-Around, Free, 30-60 Minutes

Customer brings the boat to HBW in Gores Landing, or sends detailed photos and we visit the boat where it's stored. We assess:

Hull condition (cracks, dents, transom soft spots)
Existing motor age, brand, model, and condition
Existing rigging condition (controls, harness, steering, gauges)
Fuel system condition
Customer use case

We give a verbal estimate of the repower scope, flag any issues that need addressing, and point you to the configurator for live pricing. The walk-around is free. No commitment required.

Step 2: Motor Selection and Written Quote

Customer builds a quote at mercuryrepower.ca or works with us to configure. The quote includes:

Specific Mercury model, shaft length, and controls type
Prop selection (or noted as determined during sea trial)
Rigging package
Install labour
HST (13% Ontario)
Total all-in number in CAD

If you want to talk through the configuration, we do a 15, 30-minute consultation by phone or in-shop.

Step 3: Deposit and Booking

A deposit (typically 25% of the all-in cost) holds the slot and locks in the motor allocation. Customer signs the work order. Booking confirms the drop-off date and target completion date.

If financing through Mercury Repower Financing, we handle the application in-shop.

Step 4: Boat Drop-Off

Customer brings the boat to HBW in Gores Landing on Rice Lake. We do a final pre-work inspection with the customer present, document cosmetic condition, note any custom accessories to preserve, confirm the work order.

Step 5: Removal of Old Motor, Typically Half a Day

Mercury-certified technician removes the old motor from the transom. The old motor is set aside for trade-in evaluation, customer take-home, or scrap.

Removal exposes:

The bare transom (full moisture and structural inspection now possible)
Existing rigging connections in full
Fuel system connections and hose condition

Step 6: Transom and Rigging Inspection, 1-2 Hours

This is the step some shops skip. We don't.

With the motor off, we check:

Transom condition, Press-test for soft spots. If any are found, we contact the customer with options before proceeding.
Through-hull bolts and mounting points, Replace if corroded.
Existing rigging, Throttle/shift cables, harness, steering linkage assessed against the rigging plan.
Fuel system, Hoses, primer bulb, filter, vent line, tank fittings.
Electrical system, Battery cables, switches, ground connections.

If the transom is solid, we proceed to install. If there are soft spots, the customer gets the options picture before any money is spent on the new motor installation.

Step 7: Install New Motor and Rigging, Typically 1-2 Days

Mercury-certified technician installs:

New Mercury motor mounted at the correct height, torqued to spec
Rigging connected: throttle/shift, steering, harness, fuel
Battery cables sized for the new motor's amperage
New prop installed
Mercury SmartCraft display (if specified) installed and configured
Trim/tilt tested for full range of motion

You can build a live CAD quote for your repower online at Mercury Repower Centre.

All connections double-checked. Motor is started on muffs (water-cooling adapter) to verify cooling, ignition, and basic operation before launch.

Step 8: Sea Trial with Prop Testing, Typically Half a Day

Boat is launched on Rice Lake. On-water testing:

Cooling verification, Telltale water flow within 10 seconds of start
WOT RPM check, Motor reaches mid-band of rated WOT RPM with typical loading
Hole shot, Time-to-plane from idle checked
Cruise speed, Performance verified at typical operating RPM
Trim sensitivity, Responsiveness tested
All electronics check, Gauges, GPS, fish finder all working with the new motor

If WOT RPM is off, we swap props and re-test. We have a prop test kit at HBW for this reason. The boat doesn't leave until the prop is right.

If the customer is available, they ride along to confirm the boat feels right before delivery.

Step 9: Final Adjustments and Documentation

Back at the shop:

Tighten any connections that loosened during sea trial
Document final configuration in service log
Complete Mercury warranty registration
Update Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) paperwork, required by Transport Canada when the motor changes, often forgotten elsewhere
Print final documentation for customer

Step 10: Pickup and Break-In Coaching, 30-60 Minutes

Customer picks up the boat. We walk through:

The new motor's controls and features
Mercury SmartCraft display interpretation (if applicable)
The 10-hour break-in protocol
The 20-hour first oil change (we book this in advance)
Mercury warranty terms
Annual maintenance schedule
Final invoice and any remaining payment

Customer drives away with a new Mercury, full documentation, and a clear picture of the first year of ownership.

Three Things We Do That Some Shops Skip

Free hull walk-around before the quote. No commitment. Catches issues that affect the repower scope before money is spent.

Transom inspection during install. Some shops bolt a new motor to a transom they didn't inspect. We inspect every transom with the motor off. This is where problems hide.

Sea trial with prop testing before delivery. Some shops install the motor and tell the customer to come back if something doesn't feel right. We test on the water and confirm the prop is correct before you leave.

Related at HBW

The full topic hub: How Much Does a Mercury Repower Cost in Ontario? (2026 CAD Price Guide) -- start here if you want the complete picture.

Two related guides in the same cluster:

FAQs

How long does a Mercury repower take? Shop time is typically 2-4 days for Mercury-to-Mercury, 4-6 days for brand conversions. Total time from drop-off to pickup including motor arrival is usually 7-14 days. Spring rush extends this to 2-6 weeks of lead time before the shop can start.

When is the fastest time to book a repower? November through March. Shortest wait times, first pick of motors, and sometimes promotional financing rates. By late March, spring booking is in full swing.

Do I need to be there for the sea trial? Not required, but we recommend it. Riding along lets you confirm the boat feels right and gives us a chance to walk you through the new motor's controls before you're on your own.

What happens if the transom has a soft spot? We contact you before proceeding. You get options: repair the transom now and continue with the repower, repair the transom first (which adds time and cost), or reconsider whether the hull is worth repowering. We don't install a new motor on a transom we'd have concerns about.

What's the break-in protocol for a new Mercury? Mercury's new motor break-in involves graduated throttle use over the first 10 hours, followed by a first oil change at 20 hours. We walk through this at pickup. Breaking it in correctly protects the motor for the long term.

Does HBW handle the Pleasure Craft Licence update? Yes. We handle the Transport Canada PCL paperwork for HBW customers. The PCL must be updated when the motor changes, motor specs are recorded on it.

What happens to my old motor? Trade-in credit applied to the new motor purchase, customer take-home, private sale (we can advise on value), or scrap. Even dead motors have parts and aluminum value. We give fair-market trade-in credit.

Can I drop off the boat on a trailer? Yes. HBW in Gores Landing can handle boats on trailers. Let us know when you book.

Internal Links

CTA

Ready to schedule your repower? Build a quote at mercuryrepower.ca, live CAD pricing, full configuration, rigging and installation included.

Questions about the process for your specific boat? Call 905-342-2153 or come in for a free hull walk-around. We do free walk-arounds and can answer process questions before you commit.

Ready to price it out? Build a live CAD quote for your repower online at the Mercury Repower Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Mercury repower take?: Mercury-to-Mercury repowers: 2 to 4 days of shop time after drop-off. Brand conversions (Evinrude, Yamaha, Honda to Mercury): 4 to 6 days. Spring rush adds wait time before shop starts (sometimes weeks).
Do I need to bring my boat to HBW for the walk-around?: For Rice Lake and Kawartha-area customers, we can do walk-arounds at your dock or storage location. For longer-distance customers, photos and a phone call work for initial assessment, then bring the boat to HBW for the actual quote and repower.
What happens if my transom has soft spots?: We contact you with options: fix transom now and proceed with repower, fix transom and delay repower until done, or step back and reconsider whether the hull is worth keeping. Most transoms are solid; this is a small percentage of cases.
What if my Mercury can't reach rated RPM during sea-trial?: We change the prop and re-test. Pitch is the most common issue. Sometimes the right prop is the second or third one we try. The right prop is the one that lets the motor reach mid-band of its rated WOT RPM with typical loading. See our propeller selection guide.
What's included in the repower price?: The all-in price on the motor selection page includes motor, rigging, prop, install labor, sea-trial, and Mercury warranty registration. PCL update paperwork is also handled. HST (13%) is added at quote completion.
What's not included?: Hull repairs (transom, fiberglass, structural), trade-in valuation (handled separately), trailer service or replacement, electronics upgrades beyond what came with the boat, and ongoing maintenance after the warranty's first service interval.
When can I use my boat after pickup?: Right away, with the 10-hour break-in protocol. The first hour at no-wake speed and gradual RPM increase. Vary throttle. Avoid sustained WOT for the first 10 hours. See our breaking in guide.
When's my first service after the repower?: 20-hour oil and filter change. We book this at delivery so it's not forgotten. After that, normal Mercury service intervals (annual at minimum, more frequent for heavy use).
Can I trade in my old motor during the repower?: Yes. We give fair-market trade-in value applied to the new motor purchase. Specific value depends on motor age, condition, and demand. Some old motors have significant trade-in value; some are essentially scrap.
What if something's wrong after pickup?: We stand behind the work. Call us. Common post-pickup issues are minor (loose connection, hose adjustment, prop fine-tune) and resolved quickly. Major issues are rare and covered under warranty.
When should I book a repower for a spring launch?: Motor lead times vary by model and season, and spring is busy. If you are planning a spring launch, the time to book is well before ice-out, not the week before. Start with a quote at mercuryrepower.ca and contact us to confirm availability for your slot.

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

See all Mercury outboard prices (CAD) · Repower guide · FAQ