Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

[catfish1]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

bayliner's bad rep comes in part by the guttless turds they put on the back of them. its a fact that a force comes nowhere near a johnson or evinrude in power, just look at iboats and check out the prop finder. for example a 85mod force 50hp has up to i think 15pitch prop, then check out 85mod evinrude 50hp, the prop pitch goes up to 19p. the reason being is a force 50 cant turn a 19pitch prop without severly lugging. so force motors are inferior and bayliner put them on everything! which makes bayliners somewhat inferior. i have a bayliner capri and i like it alot, but i had to toss the force, and get an evinrude before i liked the boat.

 

[clanton]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Im still looking to buy a pair of these inferior motors 120/125. Need to be year that had allen head screw in tilt/trim pump. Email me what you have clanton@earthlink.net The price should be realy low by now. Must have good compression. Do not have to make a spark.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

I just purchased a new fishing boat, to replace my Johnson, it's replacement will be a tohatsu.

 

[91formula]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Sorry everybody but I had to put my 2 senses in on this subject, Force Bashing! I think we all know Force is inferior but guess what, my 92/120 hasn't let me down except a new starter, trim relay and just recently recitfer, and switch Box, no blown pistons, rebuilds or anything, something strange on the I-Boats engine for sales, I see alot of 98/99 rebuilds for sale, whats that all about for an engine that costs about 6.5 or 7 grand! I guess I got lucky with my 92. I think I got my monies worth, I'd be more pissed if I was the guy who had those rebuilds, just me,<br /><br />Teet

 

[catfish1]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

91formula, the 98 & 99 motors that are rebuilt are mostly from rental boats & such, as you can imagine, they see many hrs use.

 

[denniz]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Hey Lakeman if you buy a tohatsu, and I hope you do, WHO in your area is certified or equipped to work on it?????...?????If you think you took a woopin on your FORCE trade in youll be in for a big suprise on your Tohu. YOU COULDNT GIVE IT AWAY.BRAND NEW. Are you serious about this??? As for the original question Force never made a 48 horse, they did make a 50 hp. Johnson made a 48 though.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

I did not trade in any motor, but I will be selling my outfit with the Johnson "40" (not 48), I still have the force, as it is doing a great job on my pontoon, the outfit rigged with the Tohatsu, I purchased outright with no trade in. There are quite a number of authorised Tohotsu repair shops within 80 miles of me (some close), and no doubt many of them over on the coast, as the forum here has many instances where they state that most commrcial fishermen prefer the Tohatsu. If you make a search on this board, as I did you will see, that Tohatsu is a motor with no complaints, and no history of needing much service.

 

[Mike Langianese]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Hello All,<br /><br />It seems that everyone has an opinion on “the Force” . I am currently without a boat (and will be new to boating except for a jon boat), I’m considering a 1994, 22 ft. Center Console with a 150 Force. I think I can buy it at a good price but should I reconsider because of the engine? If I need to replace the engine in the future what would the minimum hp?<br />Any opinions?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mike

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

I have a 94 force 70HP, which is one good motor, and I do not have trouble getting parts for it, as the parts I have needed are standard mercury parts.

 

[denniz]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Lm99 the 48 hp I was refering to was the first question of the post. As for a Tohotsus... they may have a bad rep around here due to lack of certified techs who work on them. (who knows)

 

[roscoe]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

I got my 1995 Force 70hp for free. The guy couldn't sell the package because of the "not know in area" boat, and the Force on the back.<br />Paid half of what it cost new, just 2.5 years earlier. No problems or failures yet. <br /><br />That being said, I'd like to buy a Force 70hp for parts. I figure as long as I have parts in the garage to fix it, it will never break. <br />Particularly looking for t/t units, part or whole. And powerhead, running or not.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

I just have to weigh in on this topic. I went to Minnesota for a $995 boat, motor, and trailer pkg.<br />I live in Albuquerque NM. The boat is an 88 1700 Bayliner Capri BR, the Motor is the 85 Force The trailer is a galvinezed escort.<br /><br />I did not mind the drive 1400 miles 1 way, or the expense about $500 to bring it back. I have bought all sorts of things to do maintence ie: Water pump kit with housing, fuel pump kit, spark plugs etc. I have not installed any yet. Only thing I did so far is to replace the lower unit lube an rip out the seats and the middle of the floor which was rotted.<br /><br />The boat runs and rides as well as a New Bayliner which I have recently tested. That boat was 12500 including taxes and such. <br />Some people do stare inside the boat with no lounge seats but the family and I did not care. Heck it was overloaded so to speak as I had too large a prop, we are at 4200Ft or 6000Ft depending on the lake we go to. A full tank of fuel and a 6 gal tank I thought I needed.<br /><br />I am going to have a great boat for $3500-4000 after all is said and done. And I know exactly what I have and not something somebody tried to sell me!!! In New Mexico boats are either 3000+ for a P.O.S. or New there are no cheap boats.<br /><br />And to think I was going to put a Rude on it from ebay for 500-1000 no don't need to now!!!

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

I bought a Pontoon with a 50HP 1987 vintage. I owned it for two+ years and it ran much better when I sold it then when I bought it.<br /><br />These are the facts as I see them:<br />They are dirty and noisy runners<br />They are not overly powerful<br />They are easy to work on<br />They foul plugs quite a bit<br />They like to cough when cold<br />They are prone to carbon build up<br /><br />Other than that, my Force never stranded me and when I bought it I treated it kindly. I fed it plugs, tore down the carb a few times, replaced fuel pump diaphrams, and decarbed it regularly.<br /><br />I wouldn't buy another for my primary boat because I can afford something else. If I were to have a project boat, I would stick one on there because you could get one cheap and still have reliability.

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

If you ever doubt the Force engine and Bayliner combo's. A unit that is sold in the US for $4500, will fetch closed to $12000 up here in Canada. So even after the exchange...The US would still make money here. I know of people that drive down to the US, purchase these boats and make tons of money on them up here.<br /><br />TMD

 

[seldont]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

I bought a new Force 120 in 1994. It is a 95 year model engine. Has the Merc lower unit and ignition as well as power trim. Nine years later it still looks and runs like new. Only parts I have replaced are the stator and water pump impeller. The stator was a Merc built and not just quicksilver labeled as it was the same as the 115 Mercs of the same year. I would rather have a Merc now that I can afford one but for what I do I really do not see the need in spending six or seven grand on one. I had a 100 hp Chrysler once and it also served me well. I have owned a 85 hp Merc as well. They have all served me well. I have no bias against any of them. I know there are lemons in any brand but usually the life of a motor is only as good as the maintenance it was given and the way it was used or abused.

 

[backdraft]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Maintenance is paramount in any outboad no matter what the brand. nevjb

 

[simon666]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Another Force story!.......<br />Went to look at a 1996 Maxum with a mate, i knew it had a Force 80hp and knew about their dodgy reputation but thought i'd give it the benefit of the doubt.<br />Drove the 190 miles to see a very tidy looking boat. The guy proudly showed me the invoice for £1240 worth of work only 6 moths ago on his beloved Force motor.<br />He stuck the muffs on and stared her up, she run very well, until that is he gave it some revs, the madman took it to near full throttle when it promptly siezed solid with a bang! And i mean SOLID!<br />He was in tears.<br />We didnt buy the boat! <br />Never again will i even stiff a Force!

 

[seldont]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

You can blow any of them by taking them to full throttle on the muffs alone. That guy can now say duh huh!!!

 

[baboon bum]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Well Well so much info ,was i wrong in buying my 1st bayliner and 70hp force.NO i dont think so o.k i ran outta petrol once hit a rock once and f----- the shaft and prop,expensive repairs now it aint charging so i take a spare battery on long trips but it still fires up 1st time and gets me out to Loch Lomonds islands with 4 litres of cider in the cooler .We aint all millionairs so just get in at what level you can afford.

 

[CaptDick]

Re: Force Engines - Why such a bad reputation

Hi<br /> And here's my 2 cents. I owned a 1988 Capri Bayliner with a 85 Force on it. We owned it for about 4 years and all I did, (besides regular maintenance) was to put in a new impeller. The wife, kids and me had a heck of a good time with it. Then we decided to get something bigger. So.....we sold it and bought a 1988 Bayliner Cuddy with a 125 Force. We've had it for only a year with no problems. I think that the more people put down Force motors, the cheaper it is to have fun with my family. Keep the post going!!!!(haha)