Dockline Blog

You’ve probably made a significant investment in your Mercury-powered boat and are excited to enjoy a trouble-free season on the water. One way to make the most of that investment is by insisting on using genuine Mercury Precision Parts® products for maintenance and repairs – whether you are maintaining your own engine or having the job done by a marine service shop. Here’s why using only Mercury Precision Parts can make a difference.

Parts that carry the Mercury Precision Parts label are considered Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, as opposed to aftermarket parts, which are manufactured and sold by another company. A Mercury Precision Parts product is an exact replacement for the original part installed in your Mercury or MerCruiser® engine or drive when it was manufactured, which means it has the same quality and fit as the original part, that it is made with the same materials, and that it has been validated and tested by Mercury. In fact, because Mercury is always working to improve its Precision Parts lineup, you may find the current replacement part for an older Mercury outboard or MerCruiser sterndrive is better than the original part.

In contrast, many aftermarket components are “will fit” parts, meaning they will fit your Mercury engine, but they might not be an exact fit. Some compromise might have been made so that the part also “will fit” another motor or drive, perhaps even another brand of outboard or sterndrive. They might also not use the same high-quality materials as Mercury Precision Parts, be finished to the same tolerances or come with the correct fasteners. By cutting a few corners, the aftermarket supplier may be able to offer a part at a lower price than the genuine Mercury OEM part, but we still live in a you-get-what-you-pay-for world. The few dollars you save on an aftermarket part can have a real impact on the long-term durability and reliability of your valuable engine, especially when the part is critical to protecting that engine, such as a fuel or oil filter, a water pump impeller or a sacrificial anode. An ill-fitting or poorly designed aftermarket part can even accelerate wear or damage a motor.

A steadfast, one-year warranty is another reason to invest in Mercury Precision Parts – that peace of mind comes built in for every genuine Mercury OEM part. When you make your purchase from a Mercury Authorized Dealer, you can count on getting the right answers and advice on maintenance or repairs, at no extra charge.

You can find the right parts for your Mercury or MerCruiser engine using the online Mercury Parts Catalog. Search by serial number to see detailed engine diagrams and part numbers, then contact your local Mercury Authorized Dealer to place your order. You can also browse by model, but using the serial number is the best way to ensure you find the correct parts. For Mercury outboards, the serial number label is located on the transom bracket. You can locate the MerCruiser serial number label on either the side of the engine or on top of the flame arrester cover. Go with Mercury Precision Parts and boat with confidence.