Brand Comparison
Evinrude vs Yamaha 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 | Yamaha Outboards | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1907 | 1960 |
| Headquarters | Sturtevant, Wisconsin (former) | Kennesaw, Georgia (U.S. marine HQ); Shizuoka, Japan (global) |
| Ownership | BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020 | Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. |
| Stock / Ticker | TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Evinrude discontinued 2020) | TYO: 7272 — Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. |
| Annual Revenue | ≈ $9.0 billion (TTM, BRP Inc. — whole company) | ¥2,534.2 billion group revenue (FY2025); Marine Products ¥527.6 billion |
| Employees | ≈ 17,000 worldwide (BRP Inc., entire company) | 53,701 consolidated (Dec 2023, Yamaha Motor group) |
| Manufacturing | Former Evinrude outboard production has ended | 130 consolidated subsidiaries worldwide (21 in Japan, 109 overseas) |
| HP Range | (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued | 2.5 – 450 hp |
| Fuel / Power | Direct-injection 2-stroke (E-TEC), historic | 4-stroke gasoline + electric (HARMO) |
| Product Lines | 3 families | 7 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. | Reliability and resale value. Yamaha is widely treated as the default "safe choice" for offshore center-consoles, helped by proprietary corrosion protection (YDC-30 alloy, Electro-Deposition Coating) that holds up over thousands of saltwater hours. |
| Best For | Owners of existing E-TEC/G2 motors and buyers researching used Evinrude outboards and brand history. | Reliability-first buyers, offshore multi-engine rigs, and bass/performance freshwater boats. |
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.
Yamaha on the water
Offshore Center-Consoles
Considered an industry standard for multi-engine offshore rigs; the F300 V6 and F425 XTO V8 are staples on large center consoles.
Commercial & Charter Fishing
"Bulletproof" reputation over high-hour saltwater use; favored by charter operators for low downtime and OEM parts availability.
Bass / Performance Freshwater
The V MAX SHO line is well-regarded on bass and performance freshwater boats.
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 Yamaha if…
- ✓Reputation for reliability and strong resale value
- ✓Very popular for offshore multi-engine center-consoles
- ✓V MAX SHO line well-regarded in bass/performance freshwater
Browse & Official Links
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The Honest Take
Both Evinrude Outboard Motors and Yamaha Outboards 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 Yamaha leans toward reliability-first buyers, offshore multi-engine rigs, and bass/performance freshwater boats. 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 Yamaha 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. Yamaha is best for reliability-first buyers, offshore multi-engine rigs, and bass/performance freshwater boats. The right choice depends on how you boat and what dealer support is near you.
What is the HP range of Evinrude vs Yamaha?
Evinrude Outboard Motors offers (historic) up to 300 hp — brand discontinued, while Yamaha Outboards offers 2.5 – 450 hp.
Who owns Evinrude and Yamaha?
Evinrude Outboard Motors: BRP Inc. — brand discontinued May 2020. Yamaha Outboards: Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd..