Buyers' Guide to Outboard Boats

Dedicated for Offshore Boats

by David Pascoe

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Chapter 10

The New Outboard Motor Market



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Excerpt

This chapter covers a general discussion of new outboard motors intended mainly for the novice or first-time boat buyer.

Most people ask questions such as, "What is the best engine for the price?" That is a question no one can really answer, for the only way to know what is best is by means of proof, and proof requires an historical record from which to judge.

Therefore, when buying new products, all we really have to go on is a manufacturer's historical record of similar products.

The old saying that it is never a good idea to buy the first of any new type of product is a wise one for those who don't come by their money easily.

And when it comes to engines, history proves this to be doubly wise, for new engine introductions historically have not had a good track record.

The reason for this is fairly simple: new engines are extraordinarily costly to develop. We're talking near billions here. Not only that, once a new engine is ready to be brought to production, it requires a long period of testing, which manufacturers usually try to cut short.

This is what accounts for the fact that so many first issue line of new engines usually do poorly. And when it comes to the changes in emissions standards applied to outboards, this has proved true in spades.

We can only hope that by the time this book goes to press, these problems will be worked out, but as of late 2001 they haven't.

Outboard motors come in size ranges from 1.5 HP up to 275 HP. In the under 150 HP range there are at least a dozen different manufacturers.

These break down into two cycle and four cycle engines with a variety of different types of fuel systems. These engines otherwise all operate on the same basic principles and have very similar designs.

Unlike in decades past, current offerings don't have a lot in the way of optional extras. These engines are sold as complete packages including controls, instruments, power tilt and alternators.

The options choices usually consist of type of fuel system (which I'll discuss in greater detail) differing instrument packages, propellers, counter rotation and that's about it. With the larger engines, bigger alternators are sometimes available for boats with higher electrical demands.


(Additional spaces are added for easy screen reading.)



Table of Contents: Chapter 10


Choice and No Choice
Engine Market Turmoil
How Government Rules Design Products
Direct Fuel Injection
The Rise of the Four Strokes
Will Two Stroke Engines Become Extinct?
Mercury -vs- Yamaha
Saltwater Designations
Can Boats Get Too Big and Heavy for Outboards?
How Fast Do You Want to Go?
Taking the Dealer's Advice
Cruising Speed as Horse Power Decision Benchmark
Warranties
What About Extended Warranties?
Shopping on the Internet

Copyright© 2004 David H. Pascoe
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Buyers' Guide to Outboard Boats Buyers' Guide to Outboard Boats
- Selecting and Evaluating New and Used Boats

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Soft Cover
272 pages
Publisher: D. H. Pascoe & Co., Inc.
Published: 2002
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0965649628
ISBN-13: 9780965649629

Price: $19.50
In Stock


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David Pascoe - Biography

David Pascoe is a second generation marine surveyor in his family who began his surveying career at age 16 as an apprentice in 1965 as the era of wooden boats was drawing to a close.

Certified by the National Association of Marine Surveyors in 1972, he has conducted over 5,000 pre purchase surveys in addition to having conducted hundreds of boating accident investigations, including fires, sinkings, hull failures and machinery failure analysis.

Over forty years of knowledge and experience are brought to bear in following books. David Pascoe is the author of:

In addition to readers in the United States, boaters and boat industry professionals worldwide from over 70 countries have purchased David Pascoe's books, since introduction of his first book in 2001.

In 2012, David Pascoe has retired from marine surveying business at age 65.

On November 23rd, 2018, David Pascoe has passed away at age 71.

Biography - Long version


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