Brand Comparison
Johnson 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.
| Johnson Outboards | Mercury Marine | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1922 | 1939 |
| Headquarters | Waukegan, Illinois (former, via OMC) | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin |
| Ownership | BRP Inc. — brand discontinued after 2007 | Brunswick Corporation (since 1961) |
| Stock / Ticker | TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Johnson discontinued after 2007) | 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 | Johnson-brand outboard production has ended | 9 manufacturing plants worldwide |
| HP Range | (historic) portable through high-hp — brand discontinued | 2.5 – 600 hp |
| Fuel / Power | 2-stroke (historic) and later 4-stroke | 4-stroke gasoline + electric (Avator) |
| Product Lines | 3 families | 6 families |
| Signature Tech |
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| Famous For | Being one of the two names (with Evinrude) that defined American outboarding for most of the 20th century — lightweight aluminum motors and early racing. Discontinued by BRP after 2007. | 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 Johnson motors and buyers researching used 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
Johnson on the water
Historic / Collector Interest
A founding American outboard brand with strong collector and restoration interest.
Used-Motor Market
A very large installed base keeps Johnson common and serviceable in the used market.
Vintage Racing Heritage
Known for 1920s outboard racing success in its early years.
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 Johnson if…
- ✓Founding-era American outboard heritage with 1920s racing wins
- ✓Enormous installed base and parts availability in the used market
- ✓BRP continues parts and warranty support 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 Johnson Outboards and Mercury Marine are top-tier outboard builders — you can buy either with confidence. Johnson leans toward owners of existing johnson motors and buyers researching used 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 Johnson or Mercury the better outboard?
Neither is universally "better" — they lead in different areas. Johnson is best for owners of existing johnson motors and buyers researching used 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 Johnson vs Mercury?
Johnson Outboards offers (historic) portable through high-hp — brand discontinued, while Mercury Marine offers 2.5 – 600 hp.
Who owns Johnson and Mercury?
Johnson Outboards: BRP Inc. — brand discontinued after 2007. Mercury Marine: Brunswick Corporation (since 1961).