Big outboards built in China?

Arminius

Arminius

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2019
1,068
Seattle
Boat Info
Bowrider 200 Select, 2003
Engines
5.0L MPI, 260 hp w/Alpha 1 Drive
I can find no evidence whatsoever that big outboards are built in China. However, a manufacturer would be a bankrupt idiot not to outsource the neat crates of engine/drive units to the first available source, not tariff protected. They could then be installed by the forklift driver in the parking lot. No one knows the future but the market and practicality tend to define it.
 
Agree, remember in 70’s when nobody would have bought a car from Japan or Korea? Same with motors now, times aren’t changing, they already changed long ago.
 
Yeah. You obviously haven’t gotten engineered products from China or other cheap labor zones. I’ll stick with the pros when my life is on the line in open water.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Golf, got a Japanese car? All we saying is it’s a global supply. Times have changed.
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Yeah. My "Japanese" car was built in Ohio.

And I get it, times have changed. But a lot of the stuff being made overseas isnt' worth chit. I deal with it every day. Cheap, throw away stuff, fine. But stuff you need to depend on -- not me, no way.
 
Every piece of "stainless steel" I purchased that was from China rusted within a few months. There's no way I would pay > $20K for an outboard made in China. In less than 5 years the corrosion would be debilitating.
 
Be cautious, they could be just like the Chinese made snowblowers.
Nice and shiny but no availability of replacement parts!
 
As a Professional Engineer with 50 years experience, I have a little bit of experience...LOL. My last 10 years involved designing, supervising construction and starting up of factories in the USA.

During my second last gig I was at odds with a super zealous CEO. Over my objections he signed with a China company to build the equipment. It was agreed that they comply with my blueprints, which conformed to OSHA, EPA, NEC, local building codes, etc. It didn't. The components came over coated with lead paint, NONE of the wiring met USA standards and even the pumps (exact copies of patented US made products) wouldn't pump water downhill. I had to replace half the components. He saved 4 million, but in the end I came in 8 million over budget.

If a USA company builds a factory overseas, and the plant is properly supervised (Japan, China or whatever) the quality should be OK. Nevertheless, shame on the company because they ultimately bought cheap labor and put Americans out of work.

If a product comes from Japan or Europe, it is also probably good quality.

If a product comes from a China company and is built in China, run don't walk.

To answer the original question, Mercury Marine manufactures some of their mid-size outboards in China. Their small ones are re-branded Tohatsus, made in Japan.
 
GypsmJim said:
As a Professional Engineer with 50 years experience, I have a little bit of experience...LOL. My last 10 years involved designing, supervising construction and starting up of factories in the USA.

During my second last gig I was at odds with a super zealous CEO. Over my objections he signed with a China company to build the equipment. It was agreed that they comply with my blueprints, which conformed to OSHA, EPA, NEC, local building codes, etc. It didn't. The components came over coated with lead paint, NONE of the wiring met USA standards and even the pumps (exact copies of patented US made products) wouldn't pump water downhill. I had to replace half the components. He saved 4 million, but in the end I came in 8 million over budget.

If a USA company builds a factory overseas, and the plant is properly supervised (Japan, China or whatever) the quality should be OK. Nevertheless, shame on the company because they ultimately bought cheap labor and put Americans out of work.

If a product comes from Japan or Europe, it is also probably good quality.

If a product comes from a China company and is built in China, run don't walk.

To answer the original question, Mercury Marine manufactures some of their mid-size outboards in China. Their small ones are re-branded Tohatsus, made in Japan.
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Even the USA supervised companies have issues. It's just a different way of doing business. Proceed at your own risk.
 
I work in a semiconductor manufacturing equipment overhaul business (I tell people it's a glorified carburetor rebuild shop) that has a world-wide clientele; the far eastern mindset is not the same as the Western world. How many times have we seen children's toys recalled due to leaded paints? How many of our pets died from tainted dog treats? 'You thought we were fixated on the almighty dollar? Trust me; there's worse out there, and, in the name of the bottom line, all's fair in love and war.
 
I have the impression that a good product can be built as they do not allow their employees to make mistakes. At Foxconn (home of the Iphone), the illustrated poster on the wall told employees that their rice bowls would be broken if they made any mistakes. Some employees jumped out of windows. Apologies to S. Korea, the original Kia/Hundai was a piece of crap but the product's turnaround to excellence in Quality Control was phenomenal.
The Hyundai dealerships I have encountered are franchises which allows centralized control over quality to be maintained. For what it's worth, I think a boat is a work of art with an integrated powerplant, to be named and maintained by a proud owner. Waterborne Jacuzzis with hang on drive units from China just don't fit my dated notion. Incidentally, Foxconn just opened a plant in Wisconsin, home of Mercruiser. Generally, one buys a product of China at one's own risk and it cannot be expected to last.
 
I can't help but feel like folks that still suggest quality is a widespread, consistent and predictable problem in China have no actual direct experience working with, or sourcing product from, China.

I think the honest US manufacturers that occasionally struggle with China quality (and other low cost regions) will tell you it's their non-manufacturable design, their incomplete specification or failure in design diligence that is generally root cause of quality issues.

It's not 1980 anymore, fellas. We're all posting these fun thoughts about China from our COO China computers using COO China semiconducters sending data through COO China network switches so you can view it later tonight on your COO China iPhone. I think being critical of China's history of human rights is a cool thing to do in 2021. But trying to be critical of their manufacturing infrastructure these days...hmmm.

How many "things" in the world would we say are more complex, precision examples of engineering and manufacturing prowess than nuclear power generating plants? China has gone from zero to 50 nuclear power plants since their first went online in 1990 +/-. We've only built two since 1978...and those two aren't even running yet, after 8 years of construction. Yikes...
 
So back to original question, don’t know about a big outboard, but I love my lil 2.6hp made-in-China Coleman outboard, first pull start and it rocks, see YouTube videos. $650, half the cost of Mercury. Love Mercs, had em but this was too good a deal to pass.
 
Pirate Lady said:
So back to original question, don’t know about a big outboard, but I love my lil 2.6hp made-in-China Coleman outboard, first pull start and it rocks, see YouTube videos. $650, half the cost of Mercury. Love Mercs, had em but this was too good a deal to pass.
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I cringe when I hear people say they got a good "Deal" on anything.

Coleman OB reviews would steer me away from one. Reliability is a crap shoot, parts availability is an issue and the dealer network for servicing is almost non-existent.

The competitive Mercury model is $885 out the door delivered. It comes with a huge dealer network and a warranty that is without question.

Hope your Coleman gives you many years of good service.
 
Mine has been rock solid, went underwater twice last summer (1 bad balance on zodiac, 1 storage rack broke), drained oil, gas, cylinder, fired up on first pull. I have found it’s sensitive to new plugs, likes new NKG every 4 months. Can deal with that.
 
Did a lot of research before I bought here what I found, it is made in China, Parsun, huge OB manufacture, the 2.6 is same as Yamaha, licensed by Yamaha to be built in China, parts are compatible with Yamaha, it’s all global economy. Not saying anybody should spend their money in one, but I must have got a good one cause I love it.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Agree on dealer service but ha no issues getting the few parts I needed, found 2 online links, to parts suppliers. Comparable Mercs here are 1200+
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Online Outboards dot com. I wouldn't buy a 150 HP from them because of weight and installation issues, but I have 2 portable Mercs and a Yamaha that came from them. Free shipping and awesome customer service. The last one was a 5HP 4-stroke. My local dealer wanted over $400 more.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Besides all Mercury 40, 50, and 60 hp motors are built in China. Easy google search.
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I posted that fact earlier in the thread. I even have one.....LOL. It is my understanding that the plant has some American supervision, and a look at the reviews on those motors will tell the story.
 
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