A Mercury repower at HBW takes 2 to 4 days of shop time after we have your boat. The process: hull walk-around, motor selection and quote, deposit and booking, drop-off, removal of old motor, transom and rigging inspection, installation of new motor and rigging, sea-trial...
- 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.
- Is the walk-around free?
- Yes for HBW customers. No commitment required. We do these all year.
- Can I be present during the repower?
- You can be at HBW for drop-off and pickup, but the repower itself is shop work. We don't typically allow customers in the shop during install for safety and workflow reasons. We send progress updates if you want them.
- 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.
- Do I need to do anything for warranty?
- We complete Mercury warranty registration during the install. You should keep service records for warranty claims (we provide service log copies). The warranty starts on delivery date.
- 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.