TOPIC: So what version of lower unit do I have?

Here are pictures of my 1987 Mercury 200 V6 lower unit. I never saw this version before. The nose looks like a separate piece. The intake is a slot that I had not seen this version on my 83 model...nor had I paid attention to other models to have seen this before. It does have the molded in torque tab. Bought the motor used at 7 years old. Is this a stock case for this year? I just never see this unit elsewhere.

Is this a version of hide button?
Where is the picture?

You probably have an XR or Sportmaster lower unit which were a little smaller and used on faster,
lighter hulls like bassboats and such. Very good gearcases but if your hull is of the portly variety the standard case may be a better choice. Be no problem to find a buyer for yours however, they are sought by the go faster crowd.

oops. I must be the absent minded professor. Sorry I forgot the pictures. Let’s try this again.

That is a Mercury CLE lower unit, or cresent leading edge. Probably swapped on there sometime in the past.

Thanks. Just had another mechanic tell me that today as I watched football. He said he thought that was the first generation CLE. This motor was swapped from a Laser 19 footer rated for 175. Dealer got on trade. I wanted the 20’ Hydrostream rated for 235 that only had a 175 Yamaha. I asked if they were going to swap power to make both legal to sell and he said yes. I bought it 20 years ago. The 200 had about 20 hard dings on the lower unit at waterline from hitting river debris. Had a 21 ski prop and 28 chopper. That rig looked beat hard and put up wet. The motor was 10 when I bought it and when it turned 16, the rod bearing went and gauled the crank. Had it all rebuilt and like this motor. I had a Mod VP CLE on my 83 200 that had water pick-up under bullet. I was told that was likely a second generation CLE. Since I don’t run a hydraulic transom like I did on my 450 pound 17’ Hydrostream Viking, this works fine on my 23.5” transom and 950 pound 20’ Hydrostream Voyager XT. Thanks for identifying that for me. That seam in the nose piece puzzled me since I never saw one apart.