Two weeks ago I blew my 2000 Mercury 175 EFI which I purchased new in 2000. I wasn't even really mad as I got 19 hard years out of it without any issues ever. It even blew up close to the ramp for me. I immediately called around about the new Pro XS and just like i read here, nobody had one and Jaco's told me that Mercury wasn't making any more 175hp until next year. I had a few minutes to kill yesterday so I walked into a local dealership to inquire about a Yamaha. Turns out they are just a service center for Yamaha and don't even sell them. I told him I really wanted the Mercury anyway but I can't get one. He said "I have one, just got it in". He took me around back and showed it to me still in the crate. I immediately handed him a credit card for the deposit.
It will be a couple of weeks before it is installed. What do I need to be thinking about or aware of and are there any requirements that my older boat will not have to make this transition work? I am already strongly considering hydraulic steering unless there is some other unknown big expense. The boat is a 2000 Bumble Bee 180 ProV (18ft). Should I expect the about same performance from the new engine (mid to high 60's)? I currently have a Super Start 27MS which is made by East Penn and has 840 CCA and 182RC. Is this enough? Serial number of new motor is 2B638717. What do I do with the old motor? It is of no value to the dealer, but my mechanic said there are valuable parts on it.