Brand Comparison
Johnson 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.
| Johnson Outboards | Yamaha Outboards | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1922 | 1960 |
| Headquarters | Waukegan, Illinois (former, via OMC) | Kennesaw, Georgia (U.S. marine HQ); Shizuoka, Japan (global) |
| Ownership | BRP Inc. — brand discontinued after 2007 | Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. |
| Stock / Ticker | TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Johnson discontinued after 2007) | 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 | Johnson-brand outboard production has ended | 130 consolidated subsidiaries worldwide (21 in Japan, 109 overseas) |
| HP Range | (historic) portable through high-hp — brand discontinued | 2.5 – 450 hp |
| Fuel / Power | 2-stroke (historic) and later 4-stroke | 4-stroke gasoline + electric (HARMO) |
| Product Lines | 3 families | 7 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. | 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 Johnson motors and buyers researching used 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
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.
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 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 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 Johnson Outboards and Yamaha Outboards 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 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 Johnson or Yamaha 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. 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 Johnson vs Yamaha?
Johnson Outboards offers (historic) portable through high-hp — brand discontinued, while Yamaha Outboards offers 2.5 – 450 hp.
Who owns Johnson and Yamaha?
Johnson Outboards: BRP Inc. — brand discontinued after 2007. Yamaha Outboards: Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd..