Manufacturer Profile
Force Outboards (US Marine / Brunswick / Mercury)
The budget American two-stroke of the ‘80s–‘90s — discontinued 1999, now a Mercury-supported legacy brand.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1984 (from Chrysler Marine's outboard division)
- Headquarters
- Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA (via Mercury Marine)
- Country
- United States
- Ownership
- Brunswick Corporation → Mercury Marine
- HP Range
- Legacy range (supported by Mercury today)
- Fuel / Power
- 2-stroke gasoline (legacy)
The Offer
Force was a value-oriented American outboard brand born in 1984 when Bayliner's US Marine bought Chrysler Marine's outboard division. After Brunswick acquired US Marine in 1986, Force sat alongside Mercury and Mariner and gradually adopted Mercury components (ignition, lower units, trim) over its older Chrysler-derived powerheads. Brunswick discontinued Force in 1999 as EPA emissions rules made the aging two-stroke platform uneconomical to update. Today Force is a legacy brand supported through Mercury.
Abridged History
- Created in January 1984 when Bayliner's US Marine bought Chrysler Marine's outboard division (plant in Hartford, Wisconsin), whose lineage traced to 1960s West Bend engines.
- Brunswick acquired US Marine and Bayliner in 1986, placing Force under the same roof as Mercury and Mariner; Mercury components were increasingly blended in while powerheads stayed Chrysler-based.
- Production moved from Hartford to Fond du Lac (1987–1989). Brunswick discontinued Force in 1999 (a few small models lingered into 2000) as EPA rules made the two-stroke platform uneconomical to modernize.
Product Lines (1 families)
Signature Technology
- +Simple Chrysler-derived two-stroke powerheads
- +Later Mercury ignition, lower units and trim/tilt
Heritage
A budget American brand of the 1980s–90s, sold heavily in pre-rigged boat/motor/trailer packages (Bayliner, Maxum, Glastron) before being retired under Mercury.
Company at a Glance
- Stock / Ticker
- Parent: Brunswick Corp (NYSE: BC)
- Employees
- Supported by Mercury Marine
- Annual Revenue
- Not separately disclosed (brand discontinued 1999)
- Manufacturing
- Historic: Hartford then Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
- Key Plant Locations
- Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA (Mercury Marine)
- U.S. Presence
- Discontinued 1999; some parts and service still available through the Mercury dealer network.
Force was discontinued in 1999 under Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC); no brand-specific revenue is reported. Figures are point-in-time snapshots from company filings for the year shown; stock price and market value change daily — check the ticker for live pricing.
What Force Is Famous For
Being the affordable outboard on entry-level package boats. Force is remembered as a divisive budget two-stroke — simple and cheap, later badged “Force by Mercury Marine.”
Where Force Shines on the Water
Value & Package Boats
Sold heavily in pre-rigged Bayliner/Maxum/Glastron boat-motor-trailer packages.
Simple Mechanics
Straightforward two-stroke design that home mechanics could service.
Legacy Support
Some parts and service remain available through Mercury.
Dealers & Service
Force was discontinued in 1999 and is not an active brand. Mercury Marine still supports many Force motors for parts and service, though later-year and specific components can be scarce — worth checking availability before buying a used Force.
Best For
Owners and used-motor buyers of legacy Force outboards looking for a simple, low-cost two-stroke.
- ✓Simple, mechanically straightforward two-strokes
- ✓Later models share some Mercury components
- ✓Affordable used-market motors
Browse Force Outboards For Sale
Official Force Links
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