My Grandfather and uncle had a Mercury franchise in Maine in the mid fifties. When the first Mark 6 came out for 1955, Grampa ordered 50 of them and sold them all except one he kept. (55s had the torpedo or missile decal with the word Mercury on that.) We all loved "the little red motor". It was the first motor I ever used. I cut my powerboating teeth on it. Red hood with white mid and lower units. I loved the push button neutral. I loved being able to turn it 180 degrees and back out of the dock, even though it had no reverse gear. It idled great. It ran well at every throttle opening. How I wish I had it now. It was on a very nice 15" Old Town fishing boat with a small enclosed deck on front. The 6 gallon tank lasted a long time (hours of use) on these little guys. I have also owned a KF-7, a 56 Mark 25, a 56 Mark 30, a Mark 75A (66 cid), and a 60 Merc 800, across the decades. None were new except the Mark 6 and the KF-7 (an uncle on the other side of the family bought it new in 50.)
The 75 is a 1969 and, even though it has the 'Comet' sticker on the block, it's actually a de-tuned 110 (11 cu.in.). Also, Lightning ignition uses breaker points that fire plugs when opened. Thunderbolt uses maker points that do the opposite. The 'perma gap' spark plugs lack a side electrode but they arc to the surrounding ring, not the piston.
Really diggin your channel these days. Thanks for sharing
@@JBOutboards Thanks so much. Just living my normal life. Best comment to date! Thanks again
Very nice motors, and thanks for sharing you views. I totally agree, Thunderbolt is bad.
I have a 20 hp 1966. Do you know much about them? I understand that 1966-1967 is similar....Gear shifting is different from "normal" on mine.
Very nice collection
My Grandfather and uncle had a Mercury franchise in Maine in the mid fifties. When the first Mark 6 came out for 1955, Grampa ordered 50 of them and sold them all except one he kept. (55s had the torpedo or missile decal with the word Mercury on that.) We all loved "the little red motor". It was the first motor I ever used. I cut my powerboating teeth on it. Red hood with white mid and lower units. I loved the push button neutral. I loved being able to turn it 180 degrees and back out of the dock, even though it had no reverse gear. It idled great. It ran well at every throttle opening. How I wish I had it now. It was on a very nice 15" Old Town fishing boat with a small enclosed deck on front. The 6 gallon tank lasted a long time (hours of use) on these little guys. I have also owned a KF-7, a 56 Mark 25, a 56 Mark 30, a Mark 75A (66 cid), and a 60 Merc 800, across the decades. None were new except the Mark 6 and the KF-7 (an uncle on the other side of the family bought it new in 50.)
I remember a place called Hanson's Landing on Branch Pond, south side of Rte #1 between Lake Lucerne and Ellsworth Falls.
Thank you. Glad you liked them
The 75 is a 1969 and, even though it has the 'Comet' sticker on the block, it's actually a de-tuned 110 (11 cu.in.). Also, Lightning ignition uses breaker points that fire plugs when opened. Thunderbolt uses maker points that do the opposite. The 'perma gap' spark plugs lack a side electrode but they arc to the surrounding ring, not the piston.
Thanks for the information. Didn’t know they sparked off the rings!