Brand Comparison
Evinrude vs Mercury Outboards
A straight, factual side-by-side — both are excellent builders that simply shine in different places. Here is how they line up and who each one suits.
| Evinrude Outboard Motors | Mercury Marine | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1907 | 1939 |
| Headquarters | Sturtevant, Wisconsin (former) | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin |
| Ownership | BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020 | Brunswick Corporation (since 1961) |
| Stock / Ticker | TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Evinrude discontinued 2020) | NYSE: BC — parent Brunswick Corporation |
| Annual Revenue | ≈ $9.0 billion (TTM, BRP Inc. — whole company) | $5.24 billion (2024, Brunswick Corporation) |
| Employees | ≈ 17,000 worldwide (BRP Inc., entire company) | 5,200+ worldwide (Mercury Marine), including roughly 2,200 union workers at the Fond du Lac campus |
| Manufacturing | Former Evinrude outboard production has ended | 9 manufacturing plants worldwide |
| HP Range | (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued | 2.5 – 600 hp |
| Fuel / Power | Direct-injection 2-stroke (E-TEC), historic | 4-stroke gasoline + electric (Avator) |
| Product Lines | 3 families | 6 families |
| Signature Tech |
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| Famous For | Inventing the practical outboard motor — and, in its final chapter, the E-TEC direct-injection two-stroke that ran for years with no scheduled dealer maintenance. Discontinued by BRP in 2020. | American-built performance and racing pedigree. Mercury Racing is a household name in high-horsepower and offshore circles, and the brand carries the widest U.S. service network — a big reason it dominates repower conversations. |
| Best For | Owners of existing E-TEC/G2 motors and buyers researching used Evinrude outboards and brand history. | High performance, offshore power, and repowers backed by the widest U.S. service network. |
Revenue and workforce figures are point-in-time snapshots from company filings for the year shown (in several cases the parent company, not just the marine division). Stock price, market value, and ROI change daily — use the ticker for live pricing.
Where Each Brand Dominates
Evinrude on the water
Historic / Collector Interest
One of the most collectible and historically important outboard names in the world.
Used-Motor Market
A large installed base of E-TEC and G2 motors keeps Evinrude relevant in the used market.
Low-Maintenance 2-Stroke Fans
E-TEC owners value the torque and minimal scheduled maintenance of the direct-injection design.
Mercury on the water
Tournament Bass Fishing
A dominant tournament choice — at the 2020 Bassmaster Classic the top 8 finishers all ran Mercury 250 Pro XS, and 33 of 53 boats in the field were Mercury-powered.
Offshore Powerboat Racing
Mercury Racing (450R, 300R, and APX competition engines) is deeply rooted in offshore and closed-course racing.
Repower & High-Horsepower
The 600 hp Verado and SmartCraft rigging make Mercury a go-to for large multi-engine repowers.
Which one fits you?
Choose Evinrude if…
- ✓Historic significance — the first commercially successful outboard
- ✓E-TEC direct-injection 2-strokes prized for torque and low scheduled maintenance
- ✓BRP still supports parts and warranty for existing owners
Choose Mercury if…
- ✓Broadest HP range of any outboard brand (portable through 600 hp)
- ✓Deep U.S. dealer, parts, and service network
- ✓Strong repower and multi-engine offshore support via SmartCraft
Browse & Official Links
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The Honest Take
Both Evinrude Outboard Motors and Mercury Marine are top-tier outboard builders — you can buy either with confidence. Evinrude leans toward owners of existing e-tec/g2 motors and buyers researching used evinrude outboards and brand history, while Mercury leans toward high performance, offshore power, and repowers backed by the widest u.s. service network. For most buyers the deciding factors are which dealer and service network is strongest in your area, and which brand your local mechanics know best. Whichever you choose, you can browse listings for both on OutboardListings.com.
FAQ
Is Evinrude or Mercury the better outboard?
Neither is universally "better" — they lead in different areas. Evinrude is best for owners of existing e-tec/g2 motors and buyers researching used evinrude outboards and brand history. Mercury is best for high performance, offshore power, and repowers backed by the widest u.s. service network. The right choice depends on how you boat and what dealer support is near you.
What is the HP range of Evinrude vs Mercury?
Evinrude Outboard Motors offers (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued, while Mercury Marine offers 2.5 – 600 hp.
Who owns Evinrude and Mercury?
Evinrude Outboard Motors: BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020. Mercury Marine: Brunswick Corporation (since 1961).