Brand Comparison
Johnson vs Tohatsu 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 | Tohatsu Corporation | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1922 | 1956 (marine); company founded 1922 |
| Headquarters | Waukegan, Illinois (former, via OMC) | Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Ownership | BRP Inc. — brand discontinued after 2007 | Tohatsu Corporation (privately held) |
| Stock / Ticker | TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Johnson discontinued after 2007) | Privately held |
| Annual Revenue | ≈ $9.0 billion (TTM, BRP Inc. — whole company) | Not publicly disclosed (privately held company) |
| Employees | ≈ 17,000 worldwide (BRP Inc., entire company) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Manufacturing | Johnson-brand outboard production has ended | Japan plus China and Thailand |
| HP Range | (historic) portable through high-hp — brand discontinued | 2.5 – 250 hp |
| Fuel / Power | 2-stroke (historic) and later 4-stroke | 4-stroke gasoline (historic TLDI direct-injection 2-strokes in some markets) |
| Product Lines | 3 families | 4 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. | Being the quiet giant of the outboard world — the second-largest producer overall and the OEM factory behind a large share of small Mercury (and formerly Nissan) outboards. |
| Best For | Owners of existing Johnson motors and buyers researching used outboards and brand history. | Buyers who want a light, dependable, easy-to-service portable or mid-range outboard from a proven OEM builder. |
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.
Tohatsu on the water
Portable & Kicker Motors
Light, simple portables are a core strength — a common choice for dinghies, tenders and trolling/kicker duty.
Commercial & Rental Fleets
Simple, easy-to-service designs suit high-use rental and commercial small-boat fleets.
OEM Supply
Builds many of the small motors sold under the Mercury badge worldwide.
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 Tohatsu if…
- ✓World's second-largest outboard manufacturer
- ✓OEM builder for many small Mercury outboards — proven, widely-serviced designs
- ✓Light, simple, reliable portables that are easy to work on
Browse & Official Links
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The Honest Take
Both Johnson Outboards and Tohatsu Corporation 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 Tohatsu leans toward buyers who want a light, dependable, easy-to-service portable or mid-range outboard from a proven oem builder. 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 Tohatsu 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. Tohatsu is best for buyers who want a light, dependable, easy-to-service portable or mid-range outboard from a proven oem builder. The right choice depends on how you boat and what dealer support is near you.
What is the HP range of Johnson vs Tohatsu?
Johnson Outboards offers (historic) portable through high-hp — brand discontinued, while Tohatsu Corporation offers 2.5 – 250 hp.
Who owns Johnson and Tohatsu?
Johnson Outboards: BRP Inc. — brand discontinued after 2007. Tohatsu Corporation: Tohatsu Corporation (privately held).