Then
In Valcourt, Quebec, in 1937, Joseph-Armand Bombardier received the first patent for his B7 snowmobile; in 1942, he founded l’Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitee of Canada. The Ski-Doo first entered into production in 1959 followed by the Sea-Doo personal watercraft in 1968. Bombardier Recreational Products later purchased the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) which produced both Johnson Outboard motors and Evinrude outboard engines.
Now
Johnson Outboard engines are no longer produced as Bombardier Recreational Products moved all of its marine engine production over to Evinrude Outboard Motors. They continue to support the Johnson outboard engine brand by supplying both parts and service. As a subsidiary of Bombardier Recreational Products, Evinrude is one of the top selling marine engine manufacturers; Evinrude outboard motors are manufactured in Sturtevant, WI, and China.
Makes & Models
The last series of Johnson outboard motors were produced from 2004 to 2007; these engines included a two-stroke series ranging from 3.5 to 175 HP and a four-stroke series ranging up to 225 HP. Until 2006, Suzuki was the drive manufacturer for Johnson four-stroke outboard motors up to 225 HP. Evinrude produces an E-Tec line of 2-stroke outboard engines with inline models that range from 25 to 90 HP; E-Tec 1.7L V-4 engines with 115 to 130 HP; V-6 models ranging from 150 to 300 HP; plus E-Tec High Output (H.O.) engines featuring 115 to 250 HP.
Customer Satisfaction
According to J.D. Powers and Associates in February 2009, Evinrude ranks as the number one marine engine manufacturer in new boat owner satisfaction with 907 out of a possible 1,000 points awarded. Evinrude also ranked number one in the two-stroke direction injection (DI) outboard engine category providing exceptional fuel economy, smoothness when shifting, and overall reliability.
Service, Parts, and Owner’s Manuals
Both Johnson and Evinrude outboard motor parts and manuals can be ordered directly from your local Evinrude dealer. Vintage Evinrude marine engine parts can be purchased through Vintage Outboard & Marine Supply; the Bombardier Recreational Products/Johnson website also provides access to operator’s manuals online for 2004 to 2007 Johnson outboard engines. Repair manuals for both engine manufacturers can also be purchased through Amazon.com and through the Ken Cook Co. website.
If you’d like an answer to a Johnson/Evinrude 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 Johnson/Evinrude outboard motor and receive an answer within minutes from a certified marine mechanic. You can also browse previous Johnson/Evinrude questions and answers free of charge.
New for 2010
Purchase an Evinrude E-Tec 200 H.O. outboard engine in conjunction with a Sylvan Revolution Planing Technology (RPT) Tri-Performance pontoon package, and receive a $1,000 rebate until January 31, 2010.
Dealer Locator
Evinrude dealers can easily be located by using the ‘find a dealer’ feature on the Evinrude website; Bombardier Recreational Products dealers can be located by using the ‘find a dealer’ feature under the Sales Network category of their website.
Owner’s Groups & Clubs
There are several websites dedicated to both Johnson and Evinrude outboard motor owners. These include E-Tec Owners Group; Evinrude Fleetwin and Johnson-Outboardmotors group on Yahoo; and Johnson/Evinrude Outboard forums on Marine Engine, iboats.com, and the Johnson Outboard Forum. The Antique Outboard Motor Club is dedicated to preserving and restoring antique outboards including many Johnson outboard engines.
Sources:
Flickr.com Photo Credit: Fly By by WKeown
Wikipedia
Bombardier Recreational Products USA
Bombardier Recreational Products Corporate
Bombardier Recreational Products – Johnson
Evinrude
J.D. Powers and Associates
Just Answer
Vintage Outboard Marine Supply
Marine Engine
Iboats.com
Johnson Outboard Forum
Yahoo Groups
E-Tec Owners Group
The Antique Outboard Motor Club, Inc.