bassin' 4 life Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Does anybody know why gas outboards are so expensive? I mean a ten hp motor costs over a thousand bucks. I could probably jery rig a cheap go cart motor that would do the same thing, right? Quote
Big C Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 I saw a jerry rigged weed eater outboard on Swamp People. I've always wanted to try that. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted March 1, 2015 Super User Posted March 1, 2015 They are no longer just cylinders, pistons, and a carb. Quote
RustyShackleford Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 My roommate bought his Mercury 350CSi-CXXL for just shy of 22 grand. I spent that much building my S10. Just too much for my blood. But as long as there is noney, people will want to buy the most unique, newest, most wanted item. Quote
Fisher-O-men Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Supply, demand and Government regulation! 1 Quote
RustyShackleford Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Only thing the government is doing so far is phasing out my 2 stroke. Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted March 1, 2015 Super User Posted March 1, 2015 I guess I don't know why you are surprised? Look at any comparison... Heck, a brand new honda 10hp mower motor is $700. More goes into a boat motor. 1 Quote
RustyShackleford Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Hey now, my Honda mower is turning heads in the neighborhood... Quote
blackmax135 Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 It is because people are willing to spend that much money. Just in my opinion its kind of like cigarettes no matter how much they cost people are still going to find a way to buy it. 1 Quote
Super User Scott F Posted March 1, 2015 Super User Posted March 1, 2015 Boat dealers generally don't sell big numbers of boats and motors. In order to stay in business, they need to make a profit. If everybody had a boat like they do cars, there would be more sales. More sales means it would get cheaper to build each motor. More sales also means they could live with a lower profit margin on each motor which would bring the price down. 3 Quote
bassin' 4 life Posted March 1, 2015 Author Posted March 1, 2015 Right, so since I'm already building my boat, I should get one of these: seattle.craigslist.org/oly/for/4909892395.html And put a prop on it, right? Quote
Super User Sam Posted March 1, 2015 Super User Posted March 1, 2015 Don't forget the research and development costs which are quite high for outboard motors. The "simple" old Johnson and Evinrude models we used when I grew up in the 60's are no match for the more powerful and fuel efficient motors of today. To have all that horsepower necessary to power the heavier boats increases the costs. Quote
Smokinal Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Anything "Marine" related is twice as much as it should be. "Marine" cleaner wax = $16...Maguires cleaner wax "for a car" = $4.99...and the list goes on and on. The marine industry rapes us every day. There is absolutely no reason these motors should cost this much. 1 Quote
joefish Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 Most boat are "toys". Men's toys are expensive. Quote
Krappiehog Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 As I read I chuckle a little... Doesn't anyone really know? Some are one the right track, like added R&d cost, it's a hobby or luxury... But have you ever looked at the parts inside a marine engine? Have you ever wondered why the old 2 strokes lasted so long? The engines are built better. Car/truck engines use a sleeve type bearing, but marine or at least the old ones used all roller bearings. There's is quite a large price difference in the base cost of the the bearings as well and the set machine set up for the rod caps and journals. And as long as those old bears get oil and don't over heat they are going to last! They were made with all good quality chrome. You will also notice they are sitting in water all the time so everything has to corrosion resist, and they try to use metals that will resist electrolysis due to metals alkalids or calcum in the water. All this goes into R&d as they try to make sure they build a tuff engine that hold up,the crappy fuel regulations the EPA keeps pushing with ethonal, in with a gas engine is not designed to run with added maintance... theres a reasone race cars use it and street cars don't! Making engines lighter, also means using a alloy that is stronger, a and that means trying to match metals that have similar expansion and contraction rates so you don't have issues with gaskets blowing and bolts pulling threads like some of the auto makers have with there great ideas! All this adds up, and yes add that to a luxury and you get $$$$.$$ X2! No hobby is cheap, if you do find one let me know cuz I sure would like to know how keep my wife off my back! Lol 2 Quote
zachb34 Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 My 15 horsepower 4 stroke mercury is more expensive than a brand new motor for my jeep. That has just hit me... Quote
moguy1973 Posted March 2, 2015 Posted March 2, 2015 Break Out Another Thousand They don't call it a hole in the water that you throw money into for nothing... Quote
Super User Long Mike Posted March 2, 2015 Super User Posted March 2, 2015 Krappiehog hit the nail on the head. Add that to a much lower sales volume when compared to cars, and you have your answer. 2 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted March 2, 2015 Super User Posted March 2, 2015 My 15 horsepower 4 stroke mercury is more expensive than a brand new motor for my jeep. That has just hit me... Doesn't say much about Jeep 1 Quote
bassin' 4 life Posted March 2, 2015 Author Posted March 2, 2015 My 15 horsepower 4 stroke mercury is more expensive than a brand new motor for my jeep. That has just hit me... Exactly. Like I said I am building a boat soon. But I am also thinking about an engine swap for my truck. I'd be better off doing the swap and putting the old motor in my boat!!! Too bad my boat is too small. Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted March 2, 2015 Super User Posted March 2, 2015 It's not just outboards, it wasn't too long ago you could build a strong engine for your car for a couple thousand dollars, now it's 10-20 thousand to ever how much you care to spend. I'm looking at building a turbo charged, LS 408 stroker motor for my truck and it's looking like it's going to cost about 20 grand. Six grand just for the turbo, over two grand just for an exhaust system, five grand for the transmission. It will be pushing 30 grand when done. So, it ain't just outboards. 1 Quote
Emdexpress Posted April 25, 2015 Posted April 25, 2015 Mark up at the retail level is 40%. As noted, volume is low compared to cars and trucks. Extreme engineering is very expensive. Even though the cost makes your eyes pop out, the modern outboard is an awesome engine. Efficient, clean, quite and powerful plus way more durable than past models. And now in four cycle. Yes, Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted April 26, 2015 Super User Posted April 26, 2015 Its just like gas and oil ,demand all the hard work is done way more white collar workers then there are blue collar when it comes to huge industries.cars are made by robots same as boat motors back in the day you would have 100 workers on the floor banging wrenches now you have 1000 pencil necks and 10 wrench bangers Quote
GThunter5 Posted April 29, 2015 Posted April 29, 2015 Go take a tour of any local manufacturing plant. Things cost money to make. There's value added all across the supply chain. If you want cheaper buy Chinese. You will be disappointed with the quality. I've never really posted here but this one made me post ! Cheers 1 Quote
Gary William Posted December 5, 2018 Posted December 5, 2018 Not sure if things have changed, but I agree with all those who said marine engineering is wildly different. I am 5 years into ownership of an ocean front cottage - and the salt water environment is unbelievable. A simple swim raft with proper anchors and chains that wont corrode and rust cost about 4 times what the uninitiated would estimate due to the materials involved. Great discussion. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.