Manufacturer Profile
Johnson Outboards
A discontinued American classic — lightweight aluminum outboards and 1920s racing heritage.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1922
- Headquarters
- Waukegan, Illinois (former, via OMC)
- Country
- United States
- Ownership
- BRP Inc. — brand discontinued after 2007
- HP Range
- (historic) portable through high-hp — brand discontinued
- Fuel / Power
- 2-stroke (historic) and later 4-stroke
The Offer
Johnson is one of the founding names of American outboarding. The Johnson brothers shifted to outboards in 1922 and became known for lightweight aluminum motors and 1920s racing wins. The brand became part of OMC, then BRP — which stopped building Johnson-brand outboards after 2007. No new Johnson motors are sold, but a huge installed base survives, so this profile is a reference for owners and used-motor buyers.
Abridged History
- The Johnson brothers (Louis, Harry, Julius and Clarence) of Terre Haute, Indiana shifted to outboards in 1922, earning a name for lightweight aluminum designs and 1920s racing success.
- Became part of the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), where Johnson and Evinrude were often the same motor under different badges. Late-1990s FICHT direct-injection troubles and recalls helped push OMC into bankruptcy in 2000.
- BRP acquired the brand in 2001 and briefly ran Johnson as a four-stroke line (some using Suzuki powerheads) before discontinuing Johnson-brand outboards after 2007.
Product Lines (3 families)
Signature Technology
- +Lightweight aluminum outboard construction (1920s)
- +OMC badge-engineering shared with Evinrude
- +Later Suzuki-based four-stroke powerheads (final era)
Heritage
A cornerstone of early American outboarding with genuine 1920s racing heritage, later folded into OMC and then BRP. A classic, now historic, brand.
Company at a Glance
- Stock / Ticker
- TSX/Nasdaq: DOO — parent BRP Inc. (Johnson discontinued after 2007)
- Employees
- ≈ 17,000 worldwide (BRP Inc., entire company)
- Annual Revenue
- ≈ $9.0 billion (TTM, BRP Inc. — whole company)
- Manufacturing
- Johnson-brand outboard production has ended
- Key Plant Locations
- Former OMC/Johnson operations: Waukegan, Illinois • BRP HQ: Valcourt, Quebec, Canada
- U.S. Presence
- No new outboards sold; BRP continues parts and warranty support for existing owners, and used Johnson motors remain widely serviced.
This is BRP Inc.'s total revenue across powersports and marine. BRP stopped building Johnson-brand outboards after 2007, so outboards no longer contribute — shown only for parent-company context. 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 Johnson Is 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.
Where Johnson Shines 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.
Dealers & Service
With the brand discontinued, there is no new-motor dealer network, but BRP continues parts and warranty support for existing owners, and independent marine techs widely service older Johnson motors. Head-counts of certified technicians are not published.
Best For
Owners of existing Johnson motors and buyers researching used outboards and brand history.
- ✓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
Browse Johnson Outboards For Sale
Official Johnson Links
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