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50 Best and Worst Outboard Engines Ever!

Vintage Boats

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50 Best and Worst Outboard Engines Ever!

From unstoppable legends to catastrophic failures, we reveal the 50 best and worst outboard engines in boating history. Discover the bulletproof Johnsons that ran for decades, the Yamahas commercial operators swear by, and the groundbreaking Mercurys that rewrote the rules. Then, dive into the disasters—Evinrude’s FICHT fiasco, Force’s infamous 120, overheating Chryslers, and more. Whether you’re a boat buyer, mechanic, or marine history fan, this guide is packed with jaw-dropping stories, engineering triumphs, and cautionary tales that could save you thousands. Don’t miss the ultimate outboard showdown—past to present!

Please see below playlist for more engine comparisons:
Why Japanese and American Motors Are So Di...

#outboardengines #boatengines #vintageboats #marinehistory #boating #engines #boatingtips #engineheads #outboardmotors #boatlife

20 Comments

@VintageBoats Creator 1 year ago Pinned

Hi boat lovers and engine heads! 🚤
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video, tap 👍, leave a comment, and keep the momentum going with more roaring engines and rare boats in this playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hYLyEHxhfo&list=PLtdJBeRoIMxI_FcZveYhXnyRd-iCpKEZD

New here? Hit subscribe for deep dives and vintage boating gold. Your support helps more fans discover the channel. See you in the next one! 🌊

@c.c.hiliner1065 10 months ago (edited)

My 1998 200 Evinrude OceanPro still roars! You didn't lie about it's reliability.
She's solid as rock.

@RomainSandt 1 year ago

How is it possible to use a photo of the 150 HO that is not the 150 HO G2?!?!?! Looks like what a magazine would have imagined it would have looked like.

@JamesClichet3663 4 months ago

I enjoyed this video . gets real good toward the very end 😂 .
Love my little Mercury 110 . 1978 runs Great. 9.8 hp. Perfect for a 12 ft. Valco.

@yelyab1 4 months ago

The 557 engine was designed by former Mercury Marine engineers and techs. The trans was a shelf item from zed F (ZF). It was existing technology. The Mercury, V12 was a variation of the 557, my opinion. Mercury management can be a little arrogant sometimes. I’ve met some at fun runs and tried to talk to them. No help. I’m an engineer with 30+ years old product design and know when I’m listening to BS.

@DennisH22A 1 year ago

Have an early 4hp that I recarbed to 6hp. Never had a problem for over 10 years

@RichardSevcech-hz3xu 1 year ago

I had 1996 Force 120 I ran it 3000 hours never had a thing go wrong love it I a new boat with Mercury 150 salt it junk !!!!!

@Vi8ki 1 year ago

Bad AI writing and bad AI jokes every few seconds. We really need supervision on YT.

@russellrfox 1 year ago

My mercury 4 stroke efi is still going strong only issue i had was the fuel pump reed valve was this flimsy plastic that would break down the third time it failed i got an aftermarket one made of a different material and it hasnt failed since.

@javiponi 1 year ago

Guauuu ,me ha encantado el vídeo.
Mi padre tuvo British seagull y lo cambió por un Suzuki 14 dt que aún tenemos y que salió buenísimo,no obstante se arrepintió de vender el British seagull porque eso lo aguantaba todo todo.

@williamklimas7515 11 months ago

Interesting. A few bits of wrong info but overall good.

@Tregaskis47 4 months ago

The Chrysler 105 was the best engine Chrysler ever produced...reliable and powerful. BUT, it was NOT a Mercury built under license. It was a Chrysler 96ci block that ran almost forever.

@Graham19951 1 year ago

I was enjoying this post until you spoke an absolute load of twaddle about British Seagulls. I had them sixty five years ago and they were never air cooled. The impellors were steel and lasted a life time. Don't get me wrong they had their faults, but not what you said.

@yelyab1 4 months ago

Bombardier is a French name not a responsibility on a war aircraft that drops bombs.

@nordbaracuda 1 year ago

friend, you have a great channel and presentation of facts. The content is very interesting. Don't give up on it. Regards, 1st Assistant Captain.

@amc31b 11 months ago

Can someone type out a list of best and worst?

@mulletoutdooradventures6286 1 year ago

The f150 is the best motor ever made. I love mine. It runs for 18hrs without a single hiccup.

@waynerowlinson6177 1 year ago (edited)

41:17 The Bail-a-Matic system used by Scott-Atwater was used for bailing out boats, not draining the bottom end of motors. 44:46 - Motor is water cooled - even the video shows water streaming out the back. You then went on to talk about the 5 hp being air cooled while showing videos of a 5 HP water cooled engine and talking about not having to worry about it freezing.

Still entertaining, but could use some work.