Posts Tagged ‘engine’
Monday, July 26th, 2010
Facts about Marine Power Europe Outboard Engines
By Connie Motz, MarineFuel.com
Then
Mercury Marine has been manufacturing the Mercury outboard engine since 1939. In 1961, Mercury Marine amalgamated with Brunswick Corporation of Lake Forest, IL, and in 1971, Marine Power Europe was established in Liege, Belgium, as the European division of Mercury Marine USA. Subsequent Marine Power Europe divisions were established in France; Denmark; Netherlands; and Norway, while the name was changed to Marine Power Europe in 1981. Marine Power went on to expand to Sweden (1991), Italy (1993), and Switzerland (1995).
Now
Over 70 years later, Marine Power Europe, a division of Brunswick Marine of EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), is the foremost manufacturer and distributor of both recreational and commercial outboard engines throughout EMEA and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). In 2007, Brunswick Corporation (parent company of Brunswick Marine of EMEA) had reported sales of USD $5.67 billion with 19,760 employees worldwide as of July 2009. Marine Power Europe produces Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, and Mariner outboard engines.
Customer Satisfaction
According to the 2009 Marine Engine Competitive Study produced by J.D. Powers and Associates, Mercury Marine ranked third in the Outboard Direct Injection (DI) two-stroke category as well as fourth in the Outboard Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) four-stroke category. Mercury Marine received 886 out of a possible 1,000 points and 878 out of a possible 1,000 point, respectively.
Makes & Models
Marine Power Europe manufactures three series of the Mercury outboard engine – Verado, OptiMax, and FourStrokes – ranging from 2.5-300 HP, all featuring the durability and reliability that a Mercury outboard engine provides. Mercury MerCruiser produces both Alpha and Bravo drives plus a series of stern drives ranging from 135 to 190 HP. Mariner models include the four-stroke Verado ranging from 135 to 300 HP; FourStroke series from 5 to 115 HP; and Optimax 115 and 225 HP outboard engines.
Parts & Manuals
Mercury, MerCruiser, and Mariner outboard engine operator and maintenance manuals can be accessed in PDF (Portable Document Format) through the ‘Download Center’ of the Brunswick Marine of EMEA website. Parts for Mercury, MerCruiser, and Mariner can be ordered through local Marine Power Europe dealers. The Brunswick Marine of EMEA website also offers a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers to topics that include electrical, fuel & fuel systems, general, OptiMax, parts, and winterization queries.
New for 2010
The most recent Marine Power Europe outboard engines to be released include the 70th anniversary two-stroke DFI (Direct Fuel Injection) Mercury 125 Optimax in September 2009; the catalyst version of an inboard MerCruiser Big Block engine (380 to 430 HP) was available January 1, 2010 with a non-catalyst version to be available mid-2010.
Dealer Locator
More than 3,300 Marine Power Europe dealers can easily be located by using the ‘find a dealer’ feature on the Brunswick Marine of EMEA website.
Sources:
Flickr.com Photo Credit: Mercury MerCruiser engine by ScaryComputer
Brunswick Marine of EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa)
Marine Power
Tags: bravo, brunswick corporation, brunswick marine, catalyst, emea, engine, engines, europe, four-, four-stroke, fourstrokes, HP, marine, mariner, mercruiser, mercury, mercury marine, middle east, motor, motors, non-catalyst, optimax, outboard, power, stern drive, two-, two-stroke, verado
Posted in Boat Manufacturers, Research | No Comments »
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Facts about Hyfong Outboard Engines
By Connie Motz, MarineFuel.com
Then & Now
Established in 2000, the Zhejiang Shunfeng Power Machinery Manufacturer Co., Ltd., is located in the city of Jinhua, China. As manufacturers of various machinery including garden equipment, all terrain vehicles (ATV), snow mobiles, and boats, Zhejiang Shunfeng Power Machinery also produces Hyfong, Oshen, and Shunfeng outboards. With over USD $8 million in exports annually, Zhejiang Shunfeng Power Machinery is “one of the fastest growing names in the marine outboard market” with 12,000 Hyfong outboard engines manufactured and 300 staff employed in 2008.
Makes & Models
Zhejiang Shunfeng Power Machinery produces 23 models of Hyfong Outboards including a two-stroke series of 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 9.9, and 15 HP engines (available in black or silver and long or short shaft); and a four-stroke series of 2.5, 4, 5, 6, 9.9, and 15 HP engines (also available in black or silver and long or short shaft). The cost for Hyfong Outboard engines are said to be up to 40% less than competitor models; all engines comply with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and European CE (Conformité Européne) standards. All Hyfong Outboards feature a transistorized coil ignition (TCI) for easy starting; low oil gauge indicator; forward-neutral-reverse shifting; twist grip throttle control; and a thermostat controlled water cooling system.
Customer Satisfaction
Hyfong marine engines are quality built while customer service and satisfaction are the company’s main goal. Hyfong has an international network of worldwide locations including the USA; Canada; Mexico; Asia; Russia; Sweden; Finland; United Kingdom; Germany; France; Netherlands; Ireland; Australia; and South Africa. All Hyfong Outboard engines feature a one to two year limited factory warranty; They offers a toll-free customer service line at 1-888-471-9997 for its North American customers.
Hyfong Parts & Manuals
Hyfong owner’s, service, and parts manuals are available from Hyfong Outboard dealers. A full inventory of Hyfong parts is available to customers in the USA and Canada with savings of up to 50% over competitor parts; all major Hyfong Outboard dealers are required to stock a minimum parts inventory. In many cases, Hyfong marine engine parts are interchangeable and compatible with several major competitor outboard manufacturers.
If you’d like to ask a Hyfong Outboard engine question sooner than waiting for a manual to arrive, try the Just Answer website. For a fee ranging from $14 to $34, you can ask a Just Answer expert about a Hyfong Outboard motor and receive an answer within minutes from a certified marine mechanic. You can also browse previous Hyfong Outboard engine questions and answers free of charge.
Hyfong Outboard Dealer Locator
Hyfong Outboard engine dealers can easily be located by calling the toll-free customer service line at 1-888-471-9997 in North America.
Sources:
Zhejiang Shunfeng Power Machinery Manufacturer Co., Ltd.
Oshen Marine
Photo from Alibaba.com
Tags: atv, boat, carb, china, dealer, dealers, engine, engines, EPA, four-str, four-stroke, HP, hyfong, jinhua, long, machinery, manuals, manufacturer, motor, motors, oshen, outboard, owners, parts, power, shaft, short, shunfeng, snow mobile, standards, tci, two-stroke, zhejiang shunfeng
Posted in Boat Manufacturers, Research | No Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Marine Power, Inc. is headquartered in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and produces a diverse lineup of gas fueled inboard marine engines. The company is also a leader in JetBoat propulsion.
MarinePower started in the 1950’s by producing engines for local shrimping skiffs. The company built it’s reputation in the commercial market by providing reliable engines to meet the demands of commercial fishing in tough environments. In 1984 the company was purchased by new owners whose goal was to expand the Marine Power name into the recreational boating market. The company produces engines for OEM manufacturers in the tow boat and jet boat industries. The company also offers several engine packages for easy and reliable inboard and stern drive repower applications.
The Marine Power engine lineup is based on the well known GM Vortec engines. The engine lineup consists of these models:
- 2.4L 4-cylinder Vortec with multiport electronic fuel injection (MEFI)
- 3.0L carburetor fueled 6-cylinder for inboard and stern drive repower
- 4.3L Vortec V6 with carburetor or fuel injection options in repower packs
- 5.7L Vortec V8 with MEFI, ski boat, jet boat and repower applications
- 6.0L Vortec V8, MEFI for ski boat, jet boat and repower
- 6.2L LS3 high performance V8 for ski and jet boat applications
- 6.2L LSA supercharged V8, 530 hp. racing and high performance boating
- 7.4L V8, classic Big Block, pre-Vortec GM engine
- 8.1L Vortec Big Block V8 for jet boat and repower applications
- 8.2L 502 cu. in. Chevy V8 for inboard and stern drive repower
Marine Power provides repower packages that allows boat owners to easily retrofit their boats with more modern Vortec engines providing all of the necessary parts for a complete replacement. To enhance the drivability of their engines MarinePower introduced Digital Throttle in 2006 and will be adding Digital Shift in 2010 after two years of testing.
Marine Power made a name for itself in the jet boat industry in the 1990’s.
MarinePower has a 50 year history of providing reliable, high power engines to the commercial fishing industry, then moving into the recreational boating arena providing the same levels of performance. The company continues to work on technical innovations to keep their products at the forefront of the industry.
Source: Marine Power
Tags: boat, boat engine, boats, company, cylinder block, engine, engines, gm ls engine, gm vortec engine, inboard engine, inboard marine engine, inboard motor, inboards, jet boats, jetboat, marine power, marine power engine, marine power inc., marine propulsion, propulsion, review, sterndrive, v8 engine, vortec engines, water, watercraft
Posted in Boat Manufacturers, Featured Companies | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Skip’s Dockside Marina
By Connie Motz, MarineFuel.com
Going into their eighth season, Skip’s Dockside Marina is located in the beautiful recreation area of Greenwood Lake, NY, a mere fifty miles north of New York City. Known for its abundance of outdoor activities for the whole family, Greenwood Lake is truly a nature lover’s paradise. Owned by Kathy, Skip and Frank Prodigo, Skip’s Dockside Marina is a family run full-service marina offering everything from dockage and storage to rentals and repairs.
Offering generous walkways and a traditional finger pier styling, Skip’s Dockside Marina has 89 slips and three sizes of dockage available ranging from USD $650 to $800 for the season (as of 2009; subject to change). Overnight docking is also offered for $90 per week from Memorial Day through to Labor Day; and $75 per week before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Seasonal rates for land storage and trailer storage are $450 and $150 respectively (as of 2009; subject to change.)
Offering convenient parking, Skip’s Dockside Marina offers on-site launching facilities for your boat and personal watercraft of up to 26’ in length from dawn until dusk daily. Launching fees are $15 per boat during weekdays (Monday to Thursday); and $20 per boat during weekends & holidays (Friday to Sunday). Skip’s Dockside Marina also has a Weekend Launch Package available which includes boat launch, retrieval, and overnight dockage for $45.
In order to make the most of your visit, Skip’s Dockside Marina offers sales and rentals of paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes. Explore Greenwood Lake all day or for a half day with rental rates as follows: $15 per hour for a single kayak; $20 per hour for a double kayak; and $20 per hour for both canoes and paddle boats.
With a certified marine mechanic on-site, Skip’s Dockside Marina offers repairs and service to all marine engines including electronic, mechanical, engine, and propeller repairs as well as installation; they also repair and service jet-skis and other personal watercraft.
Winterization is offered for your boat that includes the addition of a fuel stabilizer, checking the lower unit for water, and sealing the carburetor on inboard/outboard engine; if you choose to store your boat on-site for the winter, storage also includes battery removal. Prices for the 2009-2010 season start at $50 for winterization; $14 per foot for shrink wrapping; and $30 for a boat stored on a block without a trailer.
Skip’s Dockside Marina is a popular starting point for many Greenwood Lake fishing tournaments; smallmouth and large mouth bass, Muskies, Walleye, Bluegills, and catfish are the main species of fish found in the lake. Area activities include the nearby Appalachian Trail; skiing at Mt. Peter in Warwick, or Tuxedo Ridge in Tuxedo; not to mention swimming, water and jet skiing, and boating available right on Greenwood Lake.
Enjoy a good meal at the luncheonette or take advantage of the on-site BBQ grills and picnic area – you’ll never go without food or fun at Skip’s Dockside Marina. Located at 65 Ten Eyck Avenue, Skip’s Dockside Marina is easily accessible from either Highway 210 or 17A. For more information, visit Skip’s Dockside Marina (website link below) or call (845) 477-8410.
Photo Courtesy of Skip’s Dockside Marina – Photographed by Linda McGovern
Sources:
Skip’s Dockside Marina
Greenwood Lake News
Ezine Articles
Tags: boat, canoe, certified, dock, dockage, dockside, docksides, engine, family-run, frank, greenwood, greenwood lake, kathy, kayak, launch, launching, marina, marine, mechanic, memorial day, moorage, new york, new york city, ny, paddle boats, personal watercraft, picnic, prodigo, propeller, rental, rentals, repair, repairs, skip prodigo, skip's dockside marina, slip, storage, winterization
Posted in Featured Marinas, Research | No Comments »
Monday, April 26th, 2010
By Tim Plaehn, Marinefuel.com News
evinrude boat engine manual
Finding a replacement for your lost Evinrude boat engine manual is surprisingly easy. Or the manual for any outboard engine of the popular brands and recent vintage. I would like to provide some sources and things to watch for if you need an Evinrude boat engine manual or which ever make of outboard you want to maintain. There are different manuals available. The owner’s manual gives the basic care and maintenance as well as how to use the engine. The service manual gives detailed directions on making repairs and a parts manual will give the part number for every little piece of the engine. Make sure you know what level of help you are looking for before ordering an new manual.
First I checked the OEM websites. On the website of Evenrude and sister brand Johnson outboard engines you can find Operator’s Guides (owner’s manual), service manuals and parts manuals for outboard engines going back to 1997. English and French versions are available thanks to Canadian mother company Bombardier. From the Evinrude home page select parts & accessories, then literature in the new window.
I checked the Yamaha marine, Mercury outboards and Honda marine websites and the process was similar. The Honda site had manuals under the Owners tab or page. Honda also had free PDF download of the owner’s manuals. So if you need an owner’s or service manual and you have a late model outboard check the company website first, or just hop down to the dealer and order one. It is a good idea to know what the OEM thinks the price should be before you find out what your dealer wants to charge for that new service manual!
The Internet has good sources for service manuals for older and company no-longer-in-business outboard engines. Here are a few that I found to be informative and easy to navigate:
- Ken Cook Company provides literature for 1996 and older Outboard Marine Corporation products. This would cover the model lines of Johnson, Evinrude, Gale and OMC.
- Marineengine.com appears to be another good source for Johnson and Evinrude literature going back to 1917.
- iboats.com or boatmotors.com has an extensive listing of service manuals available for the major and not-so-major outboard engine companies. They also have service manuals listed for sterndrive, inboard, and personal watercraft.
The bottom line is that the outboard and other marine engine manufacturers have made owner’s manuals, service manuals and parts manuals readily available and easy to get. And at reasonable prices outside of the occasional pricey parts manual. This is not the case for many other forms of transportation. So the search for the desired Evinrude boat engine manual should not take long!
Sources: Evinrude, Honda Marine, boatmotors.com,
Tags: boats, bombardier, captions, engine, engine manuals, engines, evinrude, evinrude boat, Evinrude boat engine manual, evinrude outboard motors, honda, manuals, marine propulsion, outboard engines, outboard marine corporation, outboard motor, outboards, replacement, search, service manuals, sterndrive, water, watercraft
Posted in Boat Manufacturers | No Comments »
Friday, February 26th, 2010
Boat Engine Repair Shops in Mississippi
Whether you’re heading from the Magnolia state to Oakatibee Lake or the Gulf of Mexico, it’s always a good idea to have a reference list of boat engine repair shops in Mississippi, just in case. But, before looking for boat engine repair shops in Mississippi, here’s a few preventative measures to keep in mind.
Ensure that you always follow the engine maintenance timetable as outlined by your boat engine manufacturer, ensure usage of the correct oil mix, and change your engine oil prior to winter storage. These tips may help to reduce the need of looking for a boat engine repair shop in Mississippi, or any other state.
But when breakdowns do happen unexpectedly, you may have to seek the services of a boat engine repair shop, no matter what prevention has taken place. Before agreeing to any potential work being done, ask for a written estimate; this is both for your protection and understanding, as well as that of the boat engine repair shop. Also, ask fellow boaters about the reputation and professionalism of the boat engine repair shop you’re considering.
When you become a Silver Member on Marinefuel.com, you can use Advanced Searching to filter the E-Marina™ database, and find facilities based on specific amenities, such as boat engine repairs in Mississippi (and the rest of the US & Caribbean).
Beyond marinas, below is a reference list of boat engine repair shops in Mississippi you may want to consider:
C & S Marine Inc., of Flowood (a suburb of Jackson), MS, has offered sales and boat engine repair shop services for the past 23 years. Locally owned and operated by Jerry Scott, the focus of C & S Marine has always been their customers. They are factory authorized to supply warranty service on Yamaha and Mercury Marine outboard engines but can provide boat engine repairs on all makes and models. C & S Marine is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (closed Saturdays from September to January); telephone (601) 939-7788.
Midway Marine, located in Fulton (just outside Tupelo), MS, is locally owned and operated by Guy Conner. Dedicating to encouraging families to participate in boating, Midway Marine offers full sales and boat engine repairs including authorized warranty service for Mercury, Evinrude, Tahoe, Nitro, and Tracker (Mako). Their service department is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; telephone (662) 862-7711.
Ocean Marine Group, with two locations, Ocean Springs and Gulfport, offers factory-certified technicians ‘with over 100 years combined experience.’ They are factory authorized to service Mercury, Yamaha, and Honda outboard engines. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; telephone (228) 822-2633 in Gulfport or (228) 818-0200 in Ocean Springs.
Blue Water Marine Repair has been servicing the Gulfport area for over 49 years offering the only factory warranty service for Volvo Penta diesel engines in the area. They are a Rapid Response dealership providing after hour service for Volvo Penta warranty customers. Blue Water Marine Repair is open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; telephone (727) 327-6512.
No doubt there are many more boat engine repair shops in Mississippi to choose from but it pays to take the time to investigate before having your boat engine repaired.
Sources:
MarineFuel.com
C & S Marine Inc.
Midway Marine
Ocean Marine Group
Blue Water Marine Repair
Tags: blue water marine repair, boat, c & s marine, e-marina, engine, gulf of mexico, mercury, mercury marine, midway marine, mississippi, oakatibee lake, ocean marine group, outboard engine, repair, shops, yamaha
Posted in Boating Information | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Facts about Nissan Outboard Engines
Then
Nissan outboard engines were first manufactured in 1984 in North America as a subsidiary of Nissan Industrial Equipment located in Memphis, TN. The first Nissan outboard engine to be exhibited was in 1985 at the Bass Masters Classic held in Pine Bluff, AR. Nissan Marine became a separate company in 1991 and established their headquarters in Dallas, TX; however, they still remain as a subsidiary of the Nissan Motor Company.
Now
Nissan outboard engines are manufactured in Tokyo, Japan, by the Tohatsu Corporation – the world’s second largest manufacturer of outboard engines. Tohatsu also produces some Mercury and Honda outboard engines. The Nissan Motor Company had a revenue income of USD $93 billion in 2008.
Makes & Models
Nissan Marine produces a selection of outboard engines ranging from 2.5 HP up to 115 HP and ranging in manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing from USD $1,054 to $11,354; these outboard engines include two-stroke and four-stroke models. One of Nissan Marine’s most popular outboard motors is the award winning TDLI (Two-stroke, Low Pressure, Direct Injection) series featuring a “direct fuel injection system and a 32-bit ECU (Engine Control Unit).” The TDLI outboard engines series are compact, fuel efficient, and produce low emissions in accordance with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and CARB (California Air Resources Board) standards. All Nissan Marine outboard engines come with a 3 year limited warranty program.
Parts & Manuals
Nissan Marine outboard engine owner’s manuals can be viewed, free of charge, at the Nissan Marine website. Nissan Marine parts and service manuals for two-stroke, four-stroke, and TDLI models can be ordered from your local Nissan Marine dealer. Basic outboard engine repair manuals can be purchased through Amazon.com.
If you’d like to ask a Nissan Marine outboard engine question sooner than waiting for a manual to arrive, try the Just Answer website. For a fee ranging from $14 to $34, you can ask a Just Answer expert about a Nissan Marine outboard motor and receive an answer within minutes from a certified marine mechanic. You can also browse previous Nissan Marine questions and answers free of charge.
News for 2010
The latest products introduced into the Nissan Marine outboard engine line-up include the new 6 HP four-Sail Pro cited as “the smallest four-stroke 25-inch shaft outboard motor available,”; new 15 and 20 HP Power Tilt motors; and the new 9.8 Power Tilt engine.
Dealer Locator
With 50 dealerships across North America, Nissan Marine dealers can easily be located by using the ‘dealer locator’ feature on the Nissan Marine website.
Owner’s Groups & Clubs
There are several online forums dedicated to Nissan Marine outboard engine owners including one at Marine Engine and another at iboats.com; there is also a Tohatsu outboard engine forum on Stripers Online, at iboats.com, and a Nissan Marine owner’s group on Yahoo.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Nissan Marine
Marine Engine
Iboats.com
Stripers Online
Yahoo Groups
Tags: boat, boats, carb, economy, emission, engine, engines, EPA, four-st, fuel, motor, motors, nissan, outboard, tdli, tohatsu, two-stroke
Posted in Boating Information | No Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
Then
In 1931, the first British Seagull outboard engine produced was a twin-cylinder 10 HP known as the Marston Seagull; this British built outboard engine featured innovative concepts including a water-cooled exhaust and a reverse gear. In 1938, the chief developer and the designer of the Marston Seagull purchased the patent and manufacturing rights for the engine and began the Bristol Motor Company. Cited as “the best outboard motor in the world,” the Marston Seagull name was changed to become the British Seagull outboard engine, and as of 1996 these outboard engines are no longer manufactured.
Now
Although they are no longer produced, parts are still manufactured and supplied through Sheridan Marine located in Oxfordshire, England.
Customer Satisfaction
During the 65 year production run of classic British Seagull outboard engines, over 2.5 million outboard motors were produced, many of which are still in service today. These outboards have a dedicated following of fans who love the reliability and performance of these traditional engines.
The Facts about British Seagull Outboard Engines
Makes & Models
During its run, the British Seagull outboard engine was produced in approximately 78 different models including: a 2 HP known as a 2 HP Seagull, a Featherweight, a Forty-Minus, or a Model 45 featuring a Mk3 ignition; a 3 HP Seagull also known as a Forty-Plus – this 3HP category also included a Model 60 with Mk3 ignition, a Forty-Plus with a clutch, and a Model 55; 4 to 4.5 HP engine series including the Century 100, Century Plus fixed drive, and Century Plus clutch; and a 5 to 5.5 HP series which included the Silver Century, Silver Century with Clutch (plus clutch model 75), Silver Century Plus clutch, Silver Century Plus clutch (models 80, 100, & 90). Model 102 was primarily produced from the 1940’s to the 1950’s with some Model 102 engines produced until 1973. Other models included Model 170, Model 125, Queens Belfast (QB), Curlew, Kingfisher, and Osprey outboard engine models.
British Seagull Parts & Manuals & Questions
Owner’s, service, and parts manuals are available directly from the Sheridan Marine website. Once you’ve identified your engine lettering and number, original spare parts can be ordered from by fax, telephone, email or snail-mail. There are also two British Seagull repair handbooks written by David Sales available on Amazon.com.
If you’d like to ask a British Seagull outboard engine question sooner than waiting for a manual to arrive, try the Just Answer website. For a fee ranging from $14 to $34, you can ask a Just Answer expert and receive an answer within minutes from a certified marine mechanic. You can also browse previous questions and answers free of charge.
British Seagull Owner’s Clubs and Groups
There are several online forums dedicated including Saving Old Seagulls (SOS), Seagull Restoration, Lagerholm, and Seagull Parts. There is also a British Seagull owner’s Yahoo Group.
Sources:
Flickr.com Photo Credit – Outboard Engines by Elsie Esq.
Wikipedia
British Seagull
Sheridan Marine
Just Answer
Saving Old Seagulls
Seagull Restoration
Lagerholm
Seagull Parts
Yahoo Group
Tags: boat, british, british seagull, engine, engines, manufacturer, marston, model, motor, motors, outboard, owners, parts, repair, restoration, seagull, service, sheridan marine
Posted in Boating Information, Featured Companies | No Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
The Facts about Gull Outboard Engines
Then
Gull Outboard Motor Manufacturing Limited was a Hong Kong based manufacturer, wholesaler, and distributor, of small outboard engines ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 HP. The Gull Outboard company is no longer in business and so the history of the company remains vague.
Now
The official Gull Outboard engine website is currently not available; the response received is “this webpage is parked free courtesy of GoDaddy.com.” After conducting a search on Archive.org, the last active page archived was dated July 3, 2008.
Customer Satisfaction
There are six ‘Reviews and Guides’ for Gull Outboard engines listed on eBay Canada; these comments include:
- Stay away from this product! While warranty promises come with the product, if you try to contact them about warranty service, you’ll never reach a live representative to help you.
- 5 minutes in and the engine stopped! You’ll spend money and time trying fix it, but it will all be a total waste.
- Buy something else! Any guarantee is worthless and the one I bout never worked.
- Totally worthless. Don’t even consider buying one.
- Everything everyone says about this motor is true – it’s junk.
Makes & Models
Promising “durability, easy maintenance, and reliability at the world’s lowest price,” the latest Gull Outboard engines to be offered in 2008 ranged from 2 to 3.5 HP; they ranged in price from USD $399 to $549 with free global shipping. The 2 HP Gull Outboard motor was a lightweight engine built for an inflatable or small boat; it featured a compact design with an inside fuel tank, and weighed in at only 20 pounds. The Gull Outboard 2.5 HP engine offered the same features as the 2 HP model but weighed in at only 18 pounds; the 3.5 HP GULL Outboard engine was “rated best for weight to horsepower ratio.” It is unclear as to whether Gull Outboard engines may still be purchased directly from the manufacturer in Hong Kong as ‘dealers and distributors wanted worldwide’ advertisements still appear to be live on the internet.
Parts & Manuals
According to the Gull Outboard engine archived website, “if you should ever have a need, Gull Outboards offer all outboard parts at a fraction of the cost of other marine outboard motor manufacturer’s pricing.” Manuals for Gull Outboard motors are available online through the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
Owner’s Clubs & Groups
There are a few online forums dedicated to Gull Outboard engine owners including Practical Boating, Marine Engine, and Fishing-Forum.
Sources:
GoDaddy.com
Internet Archive.Org
eBay.ca
HiMFR
Practical Boating
Marine Engine
Fishing-Forum
Tags: do not buy one, engine, motors, out of business, outboard
Posted in Featured Companies | No Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
Then
Founded in 1908 in Milwaukee, WI, by inventor Stephen Briggs and investor Harold Stratton,
Briggs & Stratton first produced automobiles and then advanced into producing automobile parts. In 1928, Briggs & Stratton purchased the Evinrude Outboard Motor Company and subsequently sold it within a year. The company went on to manufacture engines for military and agricultural sectors; in 1953, Briggs & Stratton developed the ‘world’s first lightweight aluminum engine.’
Now
At just over 100 years old, Briggs & Stratton manufactures garden and power equipment; generators; pressure washers; air compressors; water pumps; snow blowers; and outboard engines. Briggs & Stratton is the “world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment,” with a total production of over 11 million engines annually. The current headquarters of Briggs & Stratton are located in Wauwatosa, WI, with international offices in China, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
Briggs and Stratton Outboard Engines
Customer Satisfaction
Briggs & Stratton provides a two-year limited warranty on their outboard engines; servicing is available at 30,000 Briggs & Stratton dealers located worldwide.
Environmental Commitment
As part of their ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility, Briggs & Stratton is an avid recycler of materials and continually strives to improve technology to reduce their global footprint through their Down to Earth program.
Makes & Models
Briggs & Stratton produces four outboard engine options including a 3 HP Etek Electric Motor featuring 75 pounds cruising thrust with 150 maximum thrust and an overall weight of 68 pounds; and a 5 HP 4-cycle overhead valve (OHV) Air-Cooled 189cc outboard with 4000 RPM weighing in at 56 pounds overall. All Briggs & Stratton outboard engines feature Magnetron Electronic Ignition, forward-neutral-reverse shifting, and a lightweight corrosive resistant 3-blade aluminum propeller.
Parts & Manuals
Parts, repair, and owner’s manuals can be ordered directly through the Briggs & Stratton website or through your local Briggs & Stratton dealer; outboard engine parts can be purchased through the online Briggs & Stratton Shopping service. Basic outboard engine repair manuals can be purchased through Amazon.com.
If you’d like to ask a Briggs & Stratton outboard engine question sooner than waiting for a manual to arrive, try the Just Answer website. For a fee ranging from $14 to $34, you can ask a Just Answer expert about a Briggs & Stratton outboard motor and receive an answer within minutes from a certified marine mechanic. You can also browse previous Briggs & Stratton questions and answers free of charge.
Dealer Locator
Briggs & Stratton dealers can easily be located by using the ‘find a dealer’ feature found on the Briggs & Stratton website. Briggs & Stratton outboard engines can be purchased directly through a dealer or at retail stores including Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shop, Gander Mountain, Academy Sports, and Sportman’s Warehouse.
Owner’s Groups & Clubs
There are several online forums dedicated to Briggs & Stratton outboard engine owners including iboats.com, Cabela’s, and BoatDesign.net.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Briggs & Stratton
Funding Universe
Just Answer
Iboats.com
Cabela’s
Boat Design
Tags: aluminum, bass pro shop, briggs, cabela's, electric, engine, engines, equipment, garden, gas, HP, manuals, motor, motors, outboard, parts, power, repair, service, sportsman's warehouse, stratton
Posted in Featured Companies | No Comments »
