Wikipedia:
Quote:
'Why was the 20 hp Mercury a Mark 25, and the 40 hp Mercury a Mark 55, while the 30 hp job was the Mark 30?
No one really knows.
'
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Top-Water
It's a 1957 55 E (for electric start) (I looked up the serial number on the auction advertisement) It's a 40 hp motor. The Mercury 55 H is the really sought after version for performance. Mostly for the Quicksilver lower unit that only the H models had.
Last spring my son & I picked up a (Mark 58 A) model. Essentially the same motor as the one in the video. As an FYI the number in front of the model name has nothing to do with horsepower. Most of them had in very simple terms pretty much the same engine block back then. On my sons and for all 1959 models that year they had the letter A at the end. The letter A stood for anniversary, for mercury's 25th year anniversary back then.
Little know about mercury outboard motors back was they often lied about how much horsepower their motors made. More often than not they gave out more horsepower than what was advertised. It was a brilliant marketing false advertising gimmick that worker in favor of the consumer. Until they got caught. Example: If you had two identical boats with lets say a 25 hp evinrude motor and a 25 hp merc. More often than not the Mercury would go faster. It did a couple of things, first it made the person who had the slower boat consider purchasing a merc the next time they got a boat motor combo. Second the faster boat owner felt like he had a better motor and gave them confidence to re-purchase a Merc the next time they upgraded. Third it was a sneaky way to get around horsepower restrictions that are often found on small lakes and ponds in many places. Ever wonder why there is a 9.9 horsepower mercury outboard motor? Lots of small lakes and ponds especially in other parts of country have 10 horsepower limits. A lot of their laws / regulations read less than 10 horsepower. 9.9 is less than 10.0 1956 modified Mercury 55 H in non factory colors. From the factory, Manual / Pull start, lightweight gimbal bracket and no shocks with racing lower unit. The expansion chambers are an aftermarket accessory. 1957 models
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We had a Mercury Mark 25 (
20-HP 
), but don't know if it was "Peacock Blue" or "
Bimini Blue".
Our next Mercury was white—before they made
all their motors black.
It was said that Mercury outboards arrived in
so many colors, that it was driving the showroom staff crazy! When sales-staff objected to the boss, he laid down the law with:
Quote:
"To sell motors, we will leave no stern untoned!" 
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Back to the
Feather Craft: Although likely heavier than it's equivalent in wood or fiberglass, the pronounced curves had brought impressive sheet-metal rigidity to boating.
The new winner at this auction had best, "keep a proper watch". (!)
.