Outboard Costs

[Ed O'Neill]

It has been many years since I purchased an outboard motor (last was a 140 Evinrude VRO). I recently bought a boat without an engine so as not to inherit any problems. BIG MISTAKE on my part. I usually investigate things thoroughly but I didnt. I was looking for a 200 to 225 Yamaha. Since when did outboards outprice automobiles. Sixteen to Twenty Thousand were the estimates. I sold the boat. What makes an outboard so expensive ? Ed

[Angus Hines]

LOL I just did this ..... Twin 200 hp HO's Evinrudes ....OUCH !

But 44knts puts me on the fish first.

[Mike Wellner]

Precison machining and casting, raw materials, electrical components plus assembly labor. My two stroke Yamaha 50 was $4300.

[Chuck Nickerson]

At some point, didn't the law require all new engines be 4-stroke?
That makes them more expensive.

[Dane Allen]

Living in America makes them expensive. Just look at perscription drugs and clothing as another example.

[Joe Pelonio]

I have one that cost me $189 new, a 1.2HP that I use on the canoe.

I thought that California only had severe smog laws that does allow 2 stroke engines but they have to produce like 90% less smog, so very expensive to build.

[randall rosenthal]

i have an old rude 2.3 i paid $100 for at a yard sale. runs fine but has no neutral or reverse. luckily its on the inflatable. i just crash into my destination.

i also have a boat with twin inboards....the price of new outboards is outrageous.

[Angus Hines]

My new Rudes are 2-stroke and Certified for California emissions...So I guess we can blame the 'Country of California' for the additional costs.

[michael dombrowski]

It has been many years since I purchased an outboard motor (last was a 140 Evinrude VRO). I recently bought a boat without an engine so as not to inherit any problems. BIG MISTAKE on my part. I usually investigate things thoroughly but I didnt. I was looking for a 200 to 225 Yamaha. Since when did outboards outprice automobiles. Sixteen to Twenty Thousand were the estimates. I sold the boat. What makes an outboard so expensive ? Ed

I would imagine that it is because inboards and I/Os are essentially standard engines (ours was a modified Chevy) tweaked for marine use whereas outboards are completely new designs. That and they usually are much more compact for a given horsepower which also means higher engineering costs, harder to machine, etc.
mike