That's a nice classic boat and love the old Merc.
Every time I see one of those older white Mercs it reminds of back in the mid 1970's when I got a good deal on a Mercury Mark35. Took the magneto off and cleaned the points and the cap. I didn't notice the kill switch post on the side of the magneto, and with that post against the palm of my left hand, I spun the magneto with my right hand. I then had to repair the hole in the wall created when I threw the magneto. I never tested one like that again. The only long term affects I got is that my short term memory is shot. Also, my short term memory is shot.