Are Force Motors made by Mercury?

[Techtraveler]

Saw an add for a boat today with a Force Engine, it said Force by Mercury Marine. I somehow thought Force was made by Chrysler, am I wrong? Also, I always thought Force Engines were not very good, am I wrong about that too?

Whenever I ran across an add for a boat with a Force engine I usually ignored it.


TT

 

[matt167]

Re: Are Force Motors made by Mercury?

Chrysler bought West Bend outboards in the 60's and made them until the early 80's when Chrysler needed to get out of the marine industry. US Marine bought the company and Force was born. US Marine only held onto Force outboards for a few years, and then Mercury picked them up and built them until 1999ish

 

[briangcc]

Re: Are Force Motors made by Mercury?

My '99 Bayliner Capri came with a 120HP Force engine (made by Mercury). Absolute piece of junk. In 2000, I traded the motor in on a 2000 Honda 115HP 4 Stroke. At that time, and I'm going off the installing marina's word here, the Force line was being dropped that model year.

In any event...I'd avoid Force engines like the plague based off my ownership experience.

 

[JB]

Re: Are Force Motors made by Mercury?

Force outboards were obsolete technology but every bit as reliable and easy to work on as the other outboards of the same technology.

They get a bad rap because the people who bought them were entry level as far as maintenance and care of outboards.

That so many are still in use is testimony to their longevity. Parts are getting hard to find.

 

[jkust]

Re: Are Force Motors made by Mercury?

My '99 Bayliner Capri came with a 120HP Force engine (made by Mercury). Absolute piece of junk. In 2000, I traded the motor in on a 2000 Honda 115HP 4 Stroke. At that time, and I'm going off the installing marina's word here, the Force line was being dropped that model year.

In any event...I'd avoid Force engines like the plague based off my ownership experience.

Experiences may vary. My dad has a 1984 Force purchased in 1984 by him may be the most reliable piece of machinery on the planet. Zero maintenance in all these years and runs as good as the day we broke it in the spring of 84. Only the plugs have been replaced. Even the impellor is original which I don't condone. Maybe it was built on a Wednesday or possibly because it hasn't been neglected.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Are Force Motors made by Mercury?

Well, Chrysler was forced to divest its marine line back in 1984. Brunswick (AMF) the maker of Bayliner and Trophy boats bought the line and started manufacturing the engines with no changes other than the decals. Two years later they changed the color and shape of the cowl. Other changes came more slowly. NOW: Since Brunswick also owned Mercury, (not sure what year they acquired them) One could argue that ALL Force engines are Mercury made. But in reality, the lines were kept relatively separate until about 1994 when Mercury ignitions and lower units were designed onto the engines. THESE engines from 1994-1999 are the ones typically referred to as Mercury/Force.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Are Force Motors made by Mercury?

Force outboards were obsolete technology but every bit as reliable and easy to work on as the other outboards of the same technology.

They get a bad rap because the people who bought them were entry level as far as maintenance and care of outboards.

That so many are still in use is testimony to their longevity. Parts are getting hard to find.

Very well put and 100% accurate.