re: RIP Evinrude

I had a 1998 Ficht 175. After the second blown powerhead, OMC and I had a little come to Jesus meeting and I got the next generation (Ram) in a 200, and its still humming along. Gets good fuel economy and not nearly as heavy as a 4 stoke that size (although they have gotten lighter).

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They will continue to support parts and service. Bet its gonna be shite inventory and techs though

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Half of the parts for my '95 Johnson 3.3 are no longer available anyway. As it stands, they're freakishly overpriced.

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The optimax was a great option for people who wanted to go fast, needed a light motor, or could deal with some noise to save some money. The end of the optimax was a horrible day in the world of recreational boating.

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I toyed with buying a brand new boat this year, but that would have meant 4 stroke. I was excited to find the immaculate 2015 I ended up buying with 2 stroke Pro XS.

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RIP to the best outboard motor company ever to produce motors.

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First you meant, certainly not best

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One of my first outdoor experiences as a kid was the smell of a 6hp Evinrude being started.

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Right there with you. Watching the smoke rise up from the water and you knew it was going to be a good day!

I have a 1975 Evinrude 25hp moth balled in the garage. Maybe I'll pull it out soon for memories. It's the only rude I own. Now I just have Yamahas and a Tohatsu.
With that said, I liked the G1 Etech but the G2 was just tacky looking. Having fewer options for boaters isn't a good thing

I can remember when no one would put a Mercury in the salt. It was JOMC or nothing. Damn shame that OMC is no more. I was always an Evinrude person until about 20 years ago and I only own Mercs now simply because I think they will be around until I reach room temperature. I have a 60's era Evinrude 9.9 that I bought when I was 9 so I have had it 46 years this spring and it still runs like a top and has never had ANYTHING replaced or done to it. That's probably part of their demise...buy one and it would last forever for the same price as a Merc that would have to be replaced in 7-8 years. This Evinrude has been ABUSED...in the salt with no washdown, sitting unused for years at a stretch, buried under crap on its side in the shop, completely submerged in fresh and salt water more times than I can recount...and it keeps going.

sold the blue stripe 50 and bought a 75 stinger when I turned 15 and my old man gave me the boat. Needed more speed, worst decision on my boating career.

Fool me once

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They farked it up worse than Honda

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Why aren't they more popular?

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quote:I can remember when no one would put a Mercury in the salt.exaggerate much my mercs never been scared of no salt, my first one was a '76

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I doubt there was ever any actual issues with Mercuries in salt water but there was a perception in the 70's and 80's that there was.....and when Mercury introduced Mariner outboards they claimed they were salt water friendly....they had been sold in the Pacific for a couple of years prior to introduction in the US and were built by Yamaha who had almost not outboard presence in the US when Mariner was introduced. The actual reason Mercury introduced the Mariner line was probably more to do with OMC having 2 brands but there were substantial differences between Mercs and Mariners initially...they weren't identical as OMS engines were. None of that dismissed the fact that at one time there was the perception, widely held, that Mercuries weren't designed for a salt water environment.