3.5 HP to 15 Hp Evinrude four stroke portables seen on Evinrude site

[SeaNymph Man]

Just came from the Evinrude E-TEC site and seen that Evinrude has a small line of four stroke portables from 3.5 to 15 HP,...and they look identical to Tohatsu motors! So this begs the question,...if Tohatsu is making these motors for Evinrude now,...who is making Mercury's portables now since Tohatsu once made them? I have been away from the boating scene a while and have lost track of what's been going on motorwise in the marine industry. I have a 2007 four stroke Mercury on my 2010 Lund A-14 utility-v boat and I don't have much care for it,...Mercury has struck out with me,and I am
SERIOUSLY looking at a repower back to Evinrude,...which I have had before and had ALOT less trouble with. But I am not thinking four stroke,though,...I am thinking older OMC built 15 HP Evinrude/Johnson from late 1980's to early/mid 1990's two stroke motors. But then again,...I would NOT rule out trading up to these new Evinrude portables,...only wish they were two stroke instead of four stroke!

[bbstacker1]

I am just about positive that I read someplace recently where BRP entered into some type of arrangement with Tohatsu to make small engines for them.

[tx1961whaler]

BRP TO PROVIDE LOWER-HP EVINRUDE OUTBOARD ENGINES WITH TOHATSU

Valcourt, Québec, October 13, 2011 – BRP has signed an agreement with Tohatsu Corporation to supply a range of Evinrude outboard engines from 3.5 to 15 HP. The new engines will be available at BRP dealerships in early 2012, adding to BRP's existing line-up of Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines of 15 H.O. to 300 HP*.

"We believe Tohatsu Corporation, who builds quality and market-proven engines, to be the right supplier to complete the Evinrude line-up," said José Boisjoli, president and CEO. "BRP's focus remains on the development and manufacturing of high-value and higher horsepower engines, using the E-TEC technology that we will continue to enhance with industry-leading features and benefits over the years to come."

BRP invested considerably in the Evinrude brand and E-TEC technology, including a $15 million investment in its state-of-the-art facility in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, U.S. This agreement further supports its commitment to the Evinrude brand.

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea Doo watercraft and boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, Can Am all terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries.

www.brp.com

[seahorse5]

Tohatsu makes their own, Nissan, Merc, and now Evinrude small motors. For Evinrude, the 15 HO model and all the way up to the 300hp are American made (Wisconsin) E-TEC engines.

To have a line of small portable motors, 3.5 to 15, to round out their engine family, it was quicker to have a reputable company make them. They will be Evinrude blue with the Evinrude name on them. They will come with the standard 3 year warranty. There will be no other 4-strokes in the Evinrude line up and they will continue to develop the E-TEC technology.

[TOHATSU GURU]

Just came from the Evinrude E-TEC site and seen that Evinrude has a small line of four stroke portables from 3.5 to 15 HP,...and they look identical to Tohatsu motors! So this begs the question,...if Tohatsu is making these motors for Evinrude now,...who is making Mercury's portables now since Tohatsu once made them? I have been away from the boating scene a while and have lost track of what's been going on motorwise in the marine industry. I have a 2007 four stroke Mercury on my 2010 Lund A-14 utility-v boat and I don't have much care for it,...Mercury has struck out with me,and I am
SERIOUSLY looking at a repower back to Evinrude,...which I have had before and had ALOT less trouble with. But I am not thinking four stroke,though,...I am thinking older OMC built 15 HP Evinrude/Johnson from late 1980's to early/mid 1990's two stroke motors. But then again,...I would NOT rule out trading up to these new Evinrude portables,...only wish they were two stroke instead of four stroke!

Tohatsu is still making Mercury...Evinrude is just an additional customer for Tohatsu.

[nwcove]

is there any benifit to buying a 2012 evinrude rbm, over just going with the same motor tagged as tohatsu? ( i can assume that the evinrude decal will add a couple hundred to the cost?)

[TOHATSU GURU]

No benefit that I can think of. There are not as many Evinrude dealers as there are Tohatsu dealers. But, using that logic, you should buy the Mercury as there are three times as many Mercury dealers as there are Tohatsu dealers. I don't think it really matters the label so much as it matters your local availabilty for a decent servicing dealer in your area.

[SeaNymph Man]

No benefit that I can think of. There are not as many Evinrude dealers as there are Tohatsu dealers. But, using that logic, you should buy the Mercury as there are three times as many Mercury dealers as there are Tohatsu dealers. I don't think it really matters the label so much as it matters your local availabilty for a decent servicing dealer in your area.

Sounds logical,...but since I don't care much for Mercury,...they're out. If I stay with four stroke on my repower,I would have to then go with Yamaha,..BUT,being an Evinrude guy,I still lean towards an older late model 15 HP Evinrude two stroke or early BRP built 15 Hp Johnson two stroke(2001 to about 2005). I would not rule out Tohatsu on a four stroke repower,either. ANY motor but Mercury!

[JimS123]

Sounds logical,...but since I don't care much for Mercury,...they're out. If I stay with four stroke on my repower,I would have to then go with Yamaha,..BUT,being an Evinrude guy,I still lean towards an older late model 15 HP Evinrude two stroke or early BRP built 15 Hp Johnson two stroke(2001 to about 2005). I would not rule out Tohatsu on a four stroke repower,either. ANY motor but Mercury!

I would tend to agree with you. Although I have several Mercs in my collection, they are only to play around with. I don't hang one on the back when I'm out for a serious boat ride!

Regardless, what we're talking about here isn't really a Merc. Its a riceburner with black paint on it.

All my boats carry "real" Evinrudes, so I know where you're coming from. Several were bought from the same dealer, who was a Rude dealer since the 1950's. I DO believe in being loyal to my local dealer. I give him a lot of business every year. However, when Bombardier took over after bankruptcy, he switched to Merc. There is no other Rude dealer in town!

So, now if I want to buy a new motor, I'm stuck with either a Merc (which isn't a Merc anyway) or switching to a dealer that I have no experience with.

All this outsourcing sucks if you ask me!

[SeaNymph Man]

I would tend to agree with you. Although I have several Mercs in my collection, they are only to play around with. I don't hang one on the back when I'm out for a serious boat ride!

Regardless, what we're talking about here isn't really a Merc. Its a riceburner with black paint on it.

All my boats carry "real" Evinrudes, so I know where you're coming from. Several were bought from the same dealer, who was a Rude dealer since the 1950's. I DO believe in being loyal to my local dealer. I give him a lot of business every year. However, when Bombardier took over after bankruptcy, he switched to Merc. There is no other Rude dealer in town!

So, now if I want to buy a new motor, I'm stuck with either a Merc (which isn't a Merc anyway) or switching to a dealer that I have no experience with.

All this outsourcing sucks if you ask me!

First off,...yes,all the outsourcing does suck,...secondly it's hard to be loyal to a dealer if he does not carry your preferred brand of motor,or he keeps switching brands. Happened to me on one of my previous boats,...bought my Lund from one dealer but had to go to another dealer for the motor I really wanted. Had I been your dealer for all those years,I would have stayed with Evinrude no matter what,...whether under OMC ownership or BRP ownership. Can't understand why he switched to Mercury. I want a "real" Evinrude on my boat,...not a rebadged riceburner. These new motors are getting way too expensive,...so I will go used for a repower,but get the "newest"old technology two stroke I can find,and to hell with the EPA and other environmental groups.