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Where to find the serial number
Stand behind the engine and look at the transom bracket — the clamp assembly bolted to the boat. The serial plate is riveted to it, usually on the starboard side, and carries the serial number, model number, and horsepower. On newer Mercurys there's also a barcode sticker under the cowling, and the powerhead has the serial stamped into the block as a tamper check. A serial looks like 0G760300 or 1B227000: a two-character prefix, then six digits.
What the prefix tells you
Mercury serials climb sequentially across all models, and the prefix advanced over the decades — so while the serial doesn't encode the year, the prefix brackets it. These eras are approximate (ranges overlap at the boundaries), which is why the exact year always comes from a dealer's serial-range table:
| Serial prefix | Approximate era |
|---|---|
| (digits only) | Pre-1980 (mostly 1960s–70s) |
| 0A / 0B | ≈ 1979–1983 |
| 0C | ≈ 1984–1986 |
| 0D | ≈ 1986–1989 |
| 0E | ≈ 1989–1991 |
| 0F | ≈ 1991–1994 |
| 0G | ≈ 1994–1999 |
| 0T | ≈ 2000–2005 |
| 1A / 1B | ≈ 2005–2012 |
| 1C and later (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B…) | ≈ 2013–present |
Getting the exact model year
Two reliable routes. First, Mercury's own parts catalog: enter the full serial on mercurymarine.com's parts lookup and it resolves the engine to its exact model and year (it has to — parts differ by year). Second, any Mercury dealer: they have the factory serial-range tables and can decode a serial over the phone. Bring the full serial, not just the prefix.
Model year vs. engine age
One caution for used-boat shoppers: outboards get repowered. A “2015 boat” can be wearing a 1998 engine, or a tired hull can hide behind a fresh motor. Check the engine year here, then verify the hull's own 12-character HIN separately — the two stories should line up with what the listing claims.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the serial number on a Mercury outboard?
On the metal plate riveted to the transom bracket — the clamp assembly that mounts the engine to the boat, usually on the starboard side. Newer engines also have a sticker under the cowling, and the block itself carries a stamped duplicate.
Does the Mercury serial number tell me the year?
Not directly. Mercury serials are sequential, not year-coded — the year comes from serial-range tables held by Mercury and its dealers. The letter prefix (0G, 0T, 1B…) narrows production to an era of a few years; any Mercury dealer can pin the exact model year from the full serial in seconds.
What year is my Mariner outboard?
Mariner was Mercury's sister brand (merged fully in the early 2000s) and uses the same sequential serial system, so the same prefix table and dealer lookup apply.
My serial number is all digits with no letters — how old is it?
All-digit serials predate the letter-prefix system, which began around 1979–80. Your engine is most likely from the 1960s or 70s; a dealer serial-range table gives the exact year.
The hull has a story too.
The engine year is half the picture. Decode the boat's 12-character HIN free to confirm the builder and model year — or run a full history report before you buy.