Mermaid Outboard Motors

Manufacture Date Range: Mid-Late 1950’s

  • The Mermaid OB-2 motor with cowl badge is one of three very similar motors available. Two styles of this motor were offered under the Mermaid brand and one (decal version) was offered under the Aristo-Craft brand with Aristo-Craft logos. The “badge” version of this motor has a raised metal badge on each side of the cowl side with the name “MERMAID” stamped in the metal plate. The OB-2 models also came with the larger crescent-style transom clamp with single screw and cup. The articulated tiller handle served as the on/off switch for this motor and can often need some minor adjustments to restore working condition. A lot of these tiller on/off switches wore out over time or became loose and no longer made contact internally. The Mermaid OB-2 never came with battery wires and had two faceplate battery terminals with knurled wire nuts. These motors were only available in powder blue color and were all metal construction. The box for the OB-2 motor was the largest box offered under the Mermaid name and was an art deco design with Mermaid branding. The box design is very reminiscent of cigarette boxes available during the time. The OB-2 “badge” version isn’t very rare but has a higher-than-normal collectability due to the motors design and details.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 4 inches tall

    • Tiller handle activates on/off switch

    • No battery wires

    • Faceplate battery terminals with knurled wires nuts

    • One of three very similar motors available

    • Raised metal nameplate badge on cowl sides

    • Only available in powder blue color

    • Metal construction

    • Crescent-style transom bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 3-6

    Rarity: 2.5/5
    Desirability: 3/5 with box: 3/5
    Value: 2.5 /5 with box: 3/5

  • The Mermaid OB-2 motor with cowl decal is one of three very similar motors available. Two styles of this motor were offered under the Mermaid brand and one (decal version) was offered under the Aristo-Craft brand with Aristo-Craft logos. The “decal” version of this motor has a smooth cowl design with a very simplistic black “MERMAID” decal. The OB-2 models also came with the larger crescent-style transom clamp with single screw and cup. The articulated tiller handle served as the on/off switch for this motor and can often need some minor adjustments to restore working condition. A lot of these tiller on/off switches wore out over time or became loose and no longer made contact internally. The Mermaid OB-2 never came with battery wires and had two faceplate battery terminals with knurled wire nuts. These motors were only available in powder blue color and were all metal construction. The box for the OB-2 motor was the largest box offered under the Mermaid name and was an art deco design with Mermaid branding. The box design is very reminiscent of cigarette boxes available during the time. The OB-2 “decal” version is a much rarer than the “badge” version and has a higher-than-normal collectability due to the motors design, details and rarity.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 4 inches tall

    • Tiller handle activates on/off switch

    • No battery wires

    • Faceplate battery terminals with knurled wires nuts

    • One of three very similar motors available

    • Simplistic MERMAID decal on smooth cowl sides

    • Only available in powder blue color

    • Metal construction

    • Crescent-style transom bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 3-6

    Rarity: 3.5/5
    Desirability: 3.5/5 with box: 3.5/5
    Value: 3/5 with box: 3.5/5

  • The Mermaid OB-3 motor with cowl badge is one of two very similar motors available. The two styles of this motor were offered in orange and dark blue. The orange and dark blue versions of this motor have a raised metal badge on each side of the cowl side with the name “MERMAID” stamped in the metal plate. The OB-3 orange version of this motor came with two possible styles of transom clamp. The first is the larger crescent-style transom bracket same as seen on the OB-2 models and the second is a more squared off smaller transom style bracket as seen on the Stream Line motors. Both transom brackets were available with the single screw and cup set up. The articulated tiller handle served as the on/off switch for this motor and can often need some minor adjustments to restore working condition. A lot of these tiller on/off switches wore out over time or became loose and no longer made contact internally. The Mermaid OB-3 came with red and black battery wires and pin-style terminals. These motors were only available in orange or dark blue color and were all metal construction. The box for the OB-3 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid name and “Type OB-3” in small text below the main logo. The box design was also used for the Type OB-5 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-3 orange version isn’t very rare but has a higher-than-normal collectability due to the motors design and details.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Tiller handle activates on/off switch

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of two similar motors available

    • Only available in orange and dark blue

    • Metal construction

    • Crescent-style transom bracket with single screw and cup

    • Variations came with squared off smaller transom style bracket

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 2/5
    Desirability: 2/5 with box: 2.5/5
    Value: 2/5 with box: 2.5/5

  • The Mermaid OB-3 motor with cowl badge is one of two very similar motors available. The two styles of this motor were offered in dark blue and orange. The OB-3 dark blue version is a much rarer version of this motor and has a higher-than-normal collectability due to the motors design, details and rarity. Both versions of this motor have a raised metal badge on each side of the cowl side with the name “MERMAID” stamped in the metal plate. The dark blue version of this motor only came with the larger crescent-style transom bracket and single screw and cup same as seen on the OB-2 models. The articulated tiller handle served as the on/off switch for this motor and can often need some minor adjustments to restore working condition. A lot of these tiller on/off switches wore out over time or became loose and no longer made contact internally. The Mermaid OB-3 came with red and black battery wires and pin-style terminals. These motors were only available in dark blue or orange color and were all metal construction. The box for the OB-3 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid name and “Type OB-3” in small text below the main logo. The box design was also used for the Type OB-5 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Tiller handle activates on/off switch

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of two similar motors available

    • Only available in dark blue and orange

    • Metal construction

    • Crescent-style transom bracket with single screw and cup

    • Much rarer than the orange version

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 3.5/5
    Desirability: 3/5 with box: 3.5/5
    Value: 3/5 with box: 3.5/5

  • The Stream Line OB-5 motors came in 7 different color combinations. These are Mermaid motors, but each motor was branded with “Stream Line” on the trim ring. The Stream Line motors were all the same style with some differences in materials used for construction. The red and white version of this motor is one of the most common motors and had all metal construction. These motors were mainly held together with thin metal tabs and a single rivet in the lower skeg. All OB-5 motors came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and a faceplate toggle-style on/off switch. The box for the OB-5 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Stream Line” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. The box also carries the “Type OB-5” text just under the Mermaid shield. The same box design was also used for the Type OB-3 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-5 motors have a lower desirability and overall value as they have cheaper construction and minimal detail.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Toggle-style on/off switch on faceplate

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of 7 color combos available

    • Metal construction

    • Squared off smaller transom style bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 1/5
    Desirability: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5
    Value: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5

  • The Stream Line OB-5 motors came in 7 different color combinations. These are Mermaid motors, but each motor was branded with “Stream Line” on the trim ring. The Stream Line motors were all the same style with some differences in materials used for construction. The red and cream version of this motor is one of the more common motors and had all metal construction. These motors were mainly held together with thin metal tabs and a single rivet in the lower skeg. All OB-5 motors came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and a faceplate toggle-style on/off switch. The box for the OB-5 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Stream Line” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. The box also carries the “Type OB-5” text just under the Mermaid shield. The same box design was also used for the Type OB-3 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-5 motors have a lower desirability and overall value as they have cheaper construction and minimal detail.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Toggle-style on/off switch on faceplate

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of 7 color combos available

    • Metal construction

    • Squared off smaller transom style bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 1/5
    Desirability: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5
    Value: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5

  • The Stream Line OB-5 motors came in 7 different color combinations. These are Mermaid motors, but each motor was branded with “Stream Line” on the trim ring. The Stream Line motors were all the same style with some differences in materials used for construction. The red and light blue version of this motor is one of the less common versions but not rare and had all metal construction. These motors were mainly held together with thin metal tabs and a single rivet in the lower skeg. All OB-5 motors came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and a faceplate toggle-style on/off switch. The box for the OB-5 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Stream Line” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. The box also carries the “Type OB-5” text just under the Mermaid shield. The same box design was also used for the Type OB-3 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-5 motors have a lower desirability and overall value as they have cheaper construction and minimal detail.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Toggle-style on/off switch on faceplate

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of 7 color combos available

    • Metal construction

    • Squared off smaller transom style bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 1.5/5
    Desirability: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5
    Value: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5

  • The Stream Line OB-5 motors came in 7 different color combinations. These are Mermaid motors, but each motor was branded with “Stream Line” on the trim ring. The Stream Line motors were all the same style with some differences in materials used for construction. The red and blue version of this motor is one of the rarer versions and had all metal construction. These motors were mainly held together with thin metal tabs and a single rivet in the lower skeg. All OB-5 motors came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and a faceplate toggle-style on/off switch. The box for the OB-5 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Stream Line” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. The box also carries the “Type OB-5” text just under the Mermaid shield. The same box design was also used for the Type OB-3 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-5 motors have a lower desirability and overall value as they have cheaper construction and minimal detail.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Toggle-style on/off switch on faceplate

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of 7 color combos available

    • Red/Blue versions is one of the rarer Stream Line motors available

    • Metal construction

    • Squared off smaller transom style bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 2.5/5
    Desirability: 2/5 with box: 2.5/5
    Value: 1.5/5 with box: 2/5

  • The Stream Line OB-5 motors came in 7 different color combinations. These are Mermaid motors, but each motor was branded with “Stream Line” on the trim ring. The Stream Line motors were all the same style with some differences in materials used for construction. The yellow and brown version of this motor is the only one to have a branded and unbranded trim ring variation. This motor is also unique in that it came with a plastic silver prop version and a metal prop version. This motor is one of the more common versions and had all metal construction. These motors were mainly held together with thin metal tabs and a single rivet in the lower skeg. All OB-5 motors came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and a faceplate toggle-style on/off switch. The box for the OB-5 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Stream Line” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. The box also carries the “Type OB-5” text just under the Mermaid shield. The same box design was also used for the Type OB-3 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-5 motors have a lower desirability and overall value as they have cheaper construction and minimal detail.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Toggle-style on/off switch on faceplate

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of 7 color combos available

    • Two prop versions available – a silver plastic version and a metal version

    • Metal construction

    • Squared off smaller transom style bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 1.5/5
    Desirability: 1.5/5 with box: 2/5
    Value: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5

  • The Stream Line OB-5 motors came in 7 different color combinations. These are Mermaid motors, but each motor was branded with “Stream Line” on the trim ring. The Stream Line motors were all the same style with some differences in materials used for construction. The white and silver version of this motor is one of the less common available and had two construction versions. One version was all metal construction, and the other has a plastic white top cowl. The white and silver motor is the only version available with only a silver plastic prop.  These motors were mainly held together with thin metal tabs and a single rivet in the lower skeg. All OB-5 motors came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and a faceplate toggle-style on/off switch. The box for the OB-5 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Stream Line” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. The box also carries the “Type OB-5” text just under the Mermaid shield. The same box design was also used for the Type OB-3 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-5 motors have a lower desirability and overall value as they have cheaper construction and minimal detail.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Toggle-style on/off switch on faceplate

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of 7 color combos available

    • Only version available with only silver color plastic prop

    • Two versions – one all metal construction and one with plastic white cowl portion

    • Squared off smaller transom style bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 2/5
    Desirability: 1.5/5 with box: 2/5
    Value: 1.5/5 with box: 2/5

  • The Stream Line OB-5 motors came in 7 different color combinations. These are Mermaid motors, but each motor was branded with “Stream Line” on the trim ring. The Stream Line motors were all the same style with some differences in materials used for construction. The teal and light blue version of this motor is one of the rarer versions and had all metal construction. This color combo was originally only available in combination with a similar color small wood boat. These motors were mainly held together with thin metal tabs and a single rivet in the lower skeg. All OB-5 motors came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and a faceplate toggle-style on/off switch. The box for the OB-5 motor is the primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Stream Line” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. The box also carries the “Type OB-5” text just under the Mermaid shield. The same box design was also used for the Type OB-3 and some Type OB-6 motors with minor differences to respective “Types”. The OB-5 motors have a lower desirability and overall value as they have cheaper construction and minimal detail.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3.5 inches tall

    • Toggle-style on/off switch on faceplate

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • One of 7 color combos available

    • Teal and light blue version was originally only sold with similar painted wooden boat

    • Metal construction

    • Squared off smaller transom style bracket with single screw and cup

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 2.5/5
    Desirability: 2/5 with box: 2.5/5
    Value: 1.5/5 with box: 2/5

  • The Starlet OB-6 motors came in 2 different color combinations - red and white or blue and white. Although these all-plastic motors are branded “Starlet”, these were sold in Mermaid branded boxes and are included in the Mermaid line of motors. Both color versions of this motor came with a clip-style transom bracket as seen on many smaller motors. These motors have a sealed plastic construction and are very difficult to work on or gain entry to the internal mechanisms. Although these Starlets are uncommon and do not come up for sale often, they do not command high prices or desirability due to their poor quality and simplistic designs. As with many other Mermaid motors, the Starlets also came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and have a toggle on/off switch on the starboards side of the motor. The red and white version of this motor came in the same primarily orange smaller box with the Mermaid logo and “Starlet” text in the red Mermaid shield on the cover. This box had the same graphics as other orange Mermaid boxes but, was shorter and deeper than the OB-3 and OB-5 boxes. The box also carries the “Type OB-6” text just under the Mermaid shield.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3 inches tall

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • Only the red and white version of this motor came in the orange Mermaid OB-6 box

    • One of 2 color combos available

    • Sealed plastic construction

    • Clip-style transom bracket

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 2/5
    Desirability: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5
    Value: 1/5 with box: 1.5/5

  • The Starlet OB-6 motors came in 2 different color combinations - blue and white or red and white. Although these all-plastic motors are branded “Starlet”, these were sold in Mermaid branded boxes and are included in the Mermaid line of motors. Both color versions of this motor came with a clip-style transom bracket as seen on many smaller motors. These motors have a sealed plastic construction and are very difficult to work on or gain entry to the internal mechanisms. Although these Starlets are uncommon and do not come up for sale often, they do not command high prices or desirability due to their poor quality and simplistic designs. As with many other Mermaid motors, the Starlets also came with red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals and have a toggle on/off switch on the starboards side of the motor. The blue and white version of this motor came in a unique and very rare blue box with yellow Mermaid logo and “Starlet” text in black text. The box also carries the “Type OB-6” text in a white circle on the cover. This unique box also included motor specifications on the side of the box for voltage and running details.

    Notable Traits:

    • Roughly 1:9 Scale – apx 3 inches tall

    • Red and black battery wires with pin-style terminals

    • Only the blue and white version of this motor came in the blue OB-6 box

    • Very rare light blue box with yellow Mermaid branding

    • One of 2 color combos available

    • Sealed plastic construction

    • Clip-style transom bracket

    • Country of Manufacturer: Japan

    • Production Years: Mid-late 1950’s

    • Voltage: 1.5-3

    Rarity: 2/5 with box 3.5/5
    Desirability: 1/5 with box: 2.5/5
    Value: 1/5 with box: 2.5/5

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