Considering a potential non-catalyst repower. Was planning on selling my motors to help offset the cost of the new. Doing some digging came across this little tidbit. Can anyone tell me if this still holds true?

.Return the Old Engine for a “New” non-catalyst equipped MerCruiser Carbureted or MPI marine engine(Updated 2016) There are no longer any new, catalyst equipped, carbureted marine engines available today in the completely dressed out Bobtail Engine form. Therefore if you are currently trying to find a NEW “non-catalyst equipped” MerCruiser carbureted bobtail engine – this isn’t available any longer. The only carbureted models available from MerCruiser at the time were the 3.0L and 4.3L models which have been or are currently being discontinued. Several years ago they did allow this by returning your existing engine per the EPA guidelines. However, this option made up only about 1% – 2% of the repowers happening because it required special ordering the engines from MerCruiser which then required a minimum 16 – 20 week lead-time for delivery.

NOTE: A brand new EFI turnkey bobtail marine engine “without emissions control” can be used to REPOWER older boats that were not originally equipped with emission controlled engines. This applies when the newer emissions controlled engines are not compatible/feasible with the older boat application. Please note that the non-catalyst equipped engines are not inventoried and therefore will normally take between 16 -20 weeks for delivery. Also be aware that EPA requires you to return the old engine you are replacing to MerCruiser to “Offset” the new engine being put into service. This option makes up about 1% – 2% of the upgrades happening today.

Federal law mandates that the engine being replaced must be returned to the manufacturer of the new engine – EPA Code 1068.240. This is similar to the Automotive sector’s “Cash for Clunkers” program that required destruction of the car to receive a rebate. The ability to purchase engine with no emissions control is the “rebate”. Simply return the old engine in the returnable engine container supplied by the manufacturer. This satisfies the return of the old engine. All freight for these returns is paid by Mercury/MerCruiser.

You can Google all sorts of stuff regarding the regulations . . .

But having to return a old engine in exchange for the new engine for the OEM) that does not have emission controls makes sense, else the population of non-emission controlled engines would continue to grow.

Presumably this would not apply to the aftermarket rebuilding of engines, since the engine population does not grow in that instance.

That is the reason merc offers the "remanufactured" line. New engines can't be sold without regs but reman can.

500HP and above are exempt in marine

Just not sold on the remanufactured stuff yet. I'd prefer to go new out the box.

If merc remanufactured it I see no reason why it wouldn't be held to the same standards as their new engines.

Everyone I talk to seems to be steering me away from remanufactured.