Evolution of a Cloud White Motor

Five Cloud Whites

1959-1977. Mark 35A.
The Mark 35A which came with our 1959 Sande Ace was a 4-cylinder, 40 cu. in., 35 HP motor. Mercury made a larger bore 44 cu. in., 45-HP Mark 58A, but the smaller motor was included in the Boat Show Special. Orrin Sande told us that Mercury lied about the horsepower. It was actually 40-HP and that's why we could beat 35-HP Evinrudes and Johnsons. This might have been due to different places of measuring the horsepower - at the drive shaft or at the prop shaft. Or it could be due to Carl Kiekhaefer's shrewd marketing.

The 35A served our purpose well and probably kept me from tearing up the boat. But, it was used exclusively in saltwater which takes a toll on a motor. I called it "anchor material" but most of its parts were very usable.

1985-1994.   Merc 400.
        We found a freshwater 1960 Merc 400 which is essentially a Mark 58A in new packaging. We used that motor on the Ace for several more years. Eventually, the Merc 400 needed work. It was running on only three cylinders when we put the Ace away in favor of a family-friendly Bayliner. I always figured that I would get the Ace going again when grandkids were ready for it.

2005-present.   Marc 236??
       After Ned and I contacted each other, I was excited about our Ace. I looked for our Merc 400 but couldn't find it anywhere. Who would steal such an old motor?

I found three freshwater, white, 4-cylinder Mercs in an old boat shop and bought them for a total of $200. I now had a '59 Mark 58A, a second '60 Merc 400 and a '62 Merc 450. I was staring at these along with the old Mark35A in our small garage when I thought "Where am I going to put these four motors?" Then I realized my friend Ed would let me store them in his big garage. It immediately came to me. "That's where the missing Merc is!!" So, I now had five!

I modified a sturdy, U-base engine stand to hold three of the motors. The Merc450 in the middle was clearly in the best shape. The power head of the Mark58A was covered in dirt. The 450 started on the sixth pull of the rope and idled well in a garbage can full of water in Fall, 2004. But it had a long shaft and I needed a short shaft for the Ace. So, it was time to disassemble some motors to get the best working and best appearing parts.

I lined up the four short shaft lower units and pulled their prop shafts to see which was best.
Four Mercury Lower Units

The prop shaft of the first 400 (on the right) had only one groove worn in it from the rubber seal so I decided to go with that one. I eventually had the lower unit finished at the local Mercury shop.

I used one of the Merc400s for comparison when I assembled the best parts from the others. I ended up with the chrome-plated handle, stainless-steel trim, top cowl and bottom cowl of the 58A, the stainless steel wraparound cowling of the 35A, the power head of the 450 and the lower unit and tower of the first 400. It's a real Mercenstein or Frankenmerc......a Marc 236 (on average).

Composite Mercury Outboard

The original color of these five Merc motors was the soft Cloud White. This is available in a spray can from Grubbs (now East Coast Marine) but I decided to use advice given on John's Old Merc Forum and use Ford Wimbledon White. It was a perfect match and was available at about 1/3 the price at Walmart which is important since I have five of these dang motors!

It was time for sea trials!! On the Tuesday before the Sande Ace gathering in July 2005, we launched in Tahuya Bay, Hood Canal, with friend Terry's help. I pulled and pulled on the rope and was getting really nervous when it showed no signs of starting. I then remembered that "On" would actually short the magneto to ground and prevent starting. After flipping the switch to "Off," it fired right up. We ran with a slight miss at high speed but that got better throughout the day as we buzzed friends along the shoreline. Not bad for power head and ignition system that had been laying in a shed for 25 or more years.

Following successful sea trials, July 30, 2005!
The blue of our Ace goes very well with the blue water of Hood Canal.

More Old Mercs.

A free Merc 450 became available when Greg S. found a giveaway and offered it on the Fiberglassic Northwest Q&A forum. I quickly spoke up for it, now my sixth Cloud White, but when Steve T. needed a motor of the period for his Mansfield runabout, I passed it on. Easy come, easy go.....at least to a fellow member of Fiberglassics Northwest!

A year later my wife and I were crusing the bay in a 12-foot aluminum. From a great distance, I could recognize the shape of a 4-cylinder Cloud White in a boat house. We landed and I talked to the owner. He was anxious to get rid of the 1959 Mark 35A so I bought the motor and its two-handle controls for $25. It had not been used since 1969 but it was stored in a salty condition. Anyway, I'm back to six of the beauties. I feel so much better now!