So which rod size did Merc actually use in the 6.2?

Anybody ever have one apart???
5.7 or 6.0 rod length, just curious what they chose to use.

i googled 6.2 merc con rod. got a parts breakdown. actually several. rod is listed as 5.7 magnum. the 6 inch rod is strictly aftermarket. and longer rods make more power and less torque. they are for higther rpm applications. so, i will bet they are 5.7 length. i am almost surprised they didn't use 5.565 rods from orig 400's.

I googled it also and got a different part #, that's what got me thinking.

longer rods make more power and less torque,do you realize what you just said?

shorter rods do increase torque. at the cost of extra side loads on pistons.

Both rods with that stroke increase side load on the piston, but a 6" rod creates a greater side load than a 5.7".
Anyways, I could see Mercury using the 5.7 rod since thats what the use in the 350's. Less parts to have to inventory.

It's the other way around. A longer rod creates less cylinder wall load, since the rod angle is less with the longer rod. The shorter the rod, the more angle and therefore more wall pressure. A Problem then can be that a long rod needs less compression height, which in turn makes for a shorter less stable piston.

Some of the longest rods I have seen are in tractors.....some of the shortest are in high reving little 4 cyl. engines. What is the logic behind shorter rods making the most torque?

you are correct,thr longer rod will lessen the side loading of the piston against the wall,that will reduce wear on the piston&wall.