Force Outboards

Salmonator · 04-18-2001, 11:41 PM

Does anyone have any factual info good or bad about the longetivity and reliability of these motors. I have heard much about them being a pain in the butt. Would like to hear some input from the pros.... Sal

Sockeye · 04-19-2001, 02:07 AM

When I bought my boat I talked to some mach and they said if you don't over stress the Force engine it would be fine. I asked what they meant by over stress and they said over reving, pulling water skiers, etc. Since I use my boat for all of the above and then some. So I went with a merc engine. Its like comparing K-mart brand with Nordstroms. There are lots of boats out there with a Force engine on them. I would stay away from them.

whitewaterbill · 04-19-2001, 05:42 AM

My understanding is that both Force and Mariner's are Merc's in a different wrapper as they are in the Merc product line. Should be no difference other than color and decals. When I purchased my Mariner, I was told that Mariner was Mercs salt water division and that it has a few more parts made of stainless to resist the salt. Fact or fiction ...you decide. My Mariner 9.9 has been a very good motor.

Bill

Richter · 04-19-2001, 06:23 AM

I had a buddy that had a Force motor that was junk. But, this was before Mercury bought them out. I've heard mixed reviews about the Force since Mercury started making them. If I could afford it, I would buy somthing else.

finclipped · 04-19-2001, 06:23 AM

I have had a very bad experience with Force. With less than 200 hours on the boat, the motor needed to be rebuilt. The starter had to be constantly replaced. The motor shifted very hard and often bound up. Never could tell if it would start or not. Based on what I have seen, I would never recommend a Force.

hound · 04-19-2001, 06:30 AM

morning salmonator

i have 90 force on my starcraft it's about 6 years old..we do a lot of saltwater fishing and its been a very good motor.we did have to replace the starter this year but thats been it..one thing i don't like about it is that it doesn' idle worth a poop...and the force mechancis say thats normal...
just make sure you flush them regular and keep the maitanence up and they will last a long time.

hope this helps ya

think springers!!!!!
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Hookset · 04-19-2001, 06:36 AM

My understanding is Mercury and Mariner are one in the same. Both motors having similar componets. I really don't know about the Mariner having more salt water corrosion compontes since Mercury sells some models with extra corrosion parts like the Bluewater and Coastal models.

My understanding is the Force motors are less expensive to meet a lower price point with less expensive componets. My guess is they're trying to compete with less expensive motors like Tohatsu and Suzuki to name a few.

Like the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

hook

Jeffhead · 04-19-2001, 06:58 AM

From what I have seen of these *** they are not worth the time or trouble to even deal with. A good friend of mine had one on his old boat that gave him nothing but headaches. You could never tell when it was going to start and it left him stranded very close to the rocks in the fog at Sekiu. I have read other horror stories over on Bob's board about them also. Like hook said you get what you pay for. You'll never see one hanging off of the back of a boat I own.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ 04-19-2001: Message edited by: Jeffhead ]

DK · 04-19-2001, 07:31 AM

may the force not be with you, unless you have a big pocket book stay away, own a 80hp mercury 12 years old, have only had to rebuild the fuel pump (knock on wood) in that time. stay with the 3 main brands and you should be alright good luck doug

QwikSticks · 04-19-2001, 07:34 AM

I will say their are some good force motors out their. One of my fishing buddies has a 40 horse Force on his boat. he invited me fishing with him to Sekiu one time and I remember when I pulled up and saw the force on the back of his boat I was less than thrilled and was about to turn around. The straights is not the place to have questionable motors. This force looked like cancer was about to consume it. Since he brought his kicker for emergencies and we were gonna be close to the shorelined I conceded and went. I must say I was plesantly surprised that the motor turned over first click of the starter and idled perfectly. I started asking him about it and the motor was about 10 years old, he occasionally flushed it but not after every trip, and every few years he would change the gear oil. The boat and motor gets used a lot and probably had 400 hours on it. He said he has never had a problem with it since new. Would I by a force after haveing run this motor a few times. Probably not I still believe your chances of getting a bad one are pretty good. I read last year that Force was gonna be dropped from Mercurys line-up anyway since these motors would require to much rework to get them to meet the comming emissions.

Osprey · 04-19-2001, 09:22 AM

You couldn't "Force" me to buy one
they rate somewhere below a Suzuki [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

SureSet · 04-19-2001, 10:06 AM

I have one on my boat, but I'm not sure I would buy a Force going forward. Force was bought by Merc. and (as I understand it) was basically "N-1" technology. No injection, fairly simple, but also not very clean. Tehy found many buyers who didn't have a problem with the lack of amenities (given cost), but I guess the lack of being able to meet new EPA standards basically ended the Force line. "N-1" technology just can't be made clean without allot of re-engineering. If they had to fix it, it wouldn't have been cheap.

My Force '95 40 has been really dependable, but then again I haven't abused it or hit anything, and I service it routinely.

SureSet

DF · 04-19-2001, 09:34 PM

Im not sure about the newer force motors but my uncle had a force on his bayliner when the motors were made by chrysler... all i can say is.. P..O...S ! ! !