4 Vintage Outboards Mechanics Can't Believe Are Still Running (And 3 They'd Scrap on the Spot)

Buy a boat without getting ruined by a money pit: legacyboats.netlify.app Some vintage outboard motors simply refuse to die. Hand a mechanic a forty-year-old two-stroke and he can tell in seconds whether it will outlast its owner or belongs in the scrap bin. In this video we count down four vintage outboards mechanics can't believe are still running, including the legendary Mercury "Tower of Power" inline-six, the stone-simple Johnson and Evinrude two-strokes, the near-bulletproof carbureted Yamaha, and the overlooked Suzuki DT. Then we name three outboards they would scrap on the spot, including the early Evinrude Ficht direct-injection system that helped bankrupt OMC in 2000, the cheapened Force outboard, and the Eska-built Sears Ted Williams motors nobody can find parts for anymore. If you own, restore, or are shopping for a classic outboard, this is the honest buyer's breakdown, plus a quick field test for spotting a tired motor before you hand over a dime. SOURCES Outboard Marine Corporation / OMC bankruptcy & Ficht: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outboar... Mercury inline-6 "Tower of Power" history: https://www.buckshotracing77.com/post... Yamaha 2-stroke reliability (owner reports): https://www.tinboats.net/threads/pros... Evinrude Ficht injector/powerhead failures: https://www.continuouswave.com/ubb/Fo... Best & worst outboards (Force): https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin... Most durable/reliable outboard of all time (iboats): https://forums.iboats.com/threads/mos... Most reliable outboard you've owned (The Hull Truth): https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-... The demise of OMC (BoatBlurb): https://www.boatblurb.com/post/my-sto... Force outboards, any good? (The Hull Truth): https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-... Eska / Sears Ted Williams owner opinions (iboats): https://forums.iboats.com/threads/esk... Ted Williams by Sears (Antique Outboard Motor Club): https://www.aomci.org/forums/topic/te... You can write me at: [email protected] This channel is created and operated by a boating enthusiast and should not be considered a source of professional marine advice. I am not a certified marine surveyor, yacht broker, mechanic, naval architect, financial consultant, or insurance professional. Any information shared here is intended solely for entertainment, educational, and general informational purposes. The boat histories, specifications, pricing information, market observations, and opinions presented on this channel are based on publicly available information and personal research. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, details may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Boat values and asking prices can vary significantly depending on condition, location, equipment, market trends, and other factors. All trademarks, brand names, and model names remain the property of their respective owners and are referenced only for commentary, educational purposes, and historical discussion.