Mercury 30hp ELPTO

De-rated from its 40hp counterpart, the Mercury 30 ELPTO was released locally in 1994 and is a twin cylinder, single-carburettor version of the three-cylinder, three-carbie 40-60hp range. It has the largest piston displacement of any two-stroke 30 and is a beautifully under-stressed motor that with regular maintenance should last a lifetime.

Perhaps the most remarkable characteristic of the 30 ELPTO for a big twin is the low vibration levels across its entire rev range. Unlike the twin cylinder, single-carbie Tohatsu-built Merc 30 Lite and the Yamaha 30H (both premix motors), which vibrate below 1000rpm, the 30 ELPTO has vibration levels almost as low as Yamaha's three-cylinder 30D, which is the only other two-stroke 30 to have power trim and tilt.

And whereas the 30D sports three carbies that require careful balancing to maintain correct engine tune, the 30 ELPTO has only one. In fact, the Merc is reminiscent of the old Suzuki DT40C that had two cylinders, one carbie and oil injection. The Merc also has electronic ignition timing advance whereas the 30D retains mechanical advance, but the manual recoil starter is omitted in electric start models, whereas the 30 Lite and 30H retains them.

As with its larger oil-injected carbie counterparts, the 30 ELPTO has single-point oil injection, which varies the fuel/oil ratios from 50:1 at Wide Open Throttle down to 100:1 at Dead Slow Troll. The oil tank is undercowl with a sight glass in the upper cowl.

The single-point system injects oil at the fuel pump, ensuring the throttle and choke butterfly valve shafts in the carburettor are lubricated and prevents the build-up of verdigris, unlike Yamaha's system, which injects oil at the reed valves.

Mercury's system is also less susceptible to oil "gelling" in the feed line should different brands of oil be mixed together. For these reasons, Tohatsu also uses single-point injection in its carburetted models.

Mounted on a Stacer 420 Seaway, the demo 30 ELPTO from Hirecraft Marine of Toronto, NSW, performed effortlessly on this compact runabout. Cold starting wasn't as easy as primer-equipped two-strokes and required careful co-ordination of the neutral warm-up lever and choke, but once warm, the Merc didn't miss a beat. Despite running on a 50:1 break-in mix in addition to the oil injection, oil smoke appeared only below 1500rpm. Providing the anti-ventilation plate was kept at least three-quarters immersed, power astern was good.

Compared to the 30 Lite on a Bermuda 410 Regatta Runabout, the 30 ELPTO was significantly more powerful. Spinning an 11in pitch alloy prop and pushing a total of 550kg including two adults, the Merc trolled almost silently at 4.3kmh on 950rpm using 1.3lt/h. There was a slight hesitation during the transition to the main carbie jets at 1500rpm, but above this, the Merc ran as smoothly as Yamaha's 30D.

A clean plane was achieved at 23.3kmh on 3600rpm, and at 4000rpm the Merc cruised quietly at 28.2kmh consuming 7.5lt/h. Spinning an 11.3in prop and pushing a total of 450kg, the 30 Lite averaged 29.7kmh on 4000rpm using 6.9lt/h. Through tight figure-eight turns at 4000rpm there was no prop ventilation with the 30 ELPTO, and some with the 30 Lite.

Across a 30cm chop the 30 ELPTO averaged 44.6kmh on 5600rpm using 14.0lt/h compared to 43.2kmh on 5760rpm consuming 13.2lt/h. However, noise levels of the 30 ELPTO were so low we could converse normally at the helm, whereas the 30 Lite was making its presence known!

Undercowl access is reasonable, the spark plugs are easily reached and a large capacity bowl-type fuel filter is fitted. Recommended servicing intervals are every 100 hours or once a year (also for waterpump impeller replacement) after the first 20 hours or three months.

For anglers who mainly fish saltwater, the 30 ELPTO is excellent value for money and the warranty provides two years of general coverage, three against corrosion perforation and four for selected ignition components.