Badge engineering

[BogMonster]

Been looking at 6hp aux engines.

The Suzuki 6hp four stroke and the Johnson 6hp four stroke look like the same engine - same capacity, same specs, even look the same in the photos!

Are they, and if so who actually makes it OMC or Zoozooki? Got a good price on a Johnson variant of it. Nice and light too at 25kg.

Ta

S

[Rogue Wave]

I believe that's true but am not sure!

I do know however that the Merc Sailmate range are Tohatsu's and I believe they are badged slghtly differently ie a 4 hp sailamte is a 6 HP tohatsu

[Richard B]

Certainly not OMC... the Johnson brand is owned by Bombadier now. I would guess that Suzuki is more likely, although the real truth may be well hidden - perhaps Daewoo or Matsushita really make these motors!

[ADS]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Matsushita really make these motors!

The name of that company cracks me up From what I have been told perhaps by a Johnson agent the Suzuki and Johnson 4 strokers are the same, although they are hardly going to say its OMC!

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by ADS

The name of that company cracks me up...

I'm quite partial to shitake mushrooms!

[ADS]

Originally Posted by Richard B

I'm quite partial to shitake mushrooms!

Always fancied a Shitsu puppy, in the same immature way that I would quite like a Mazda RX8 due to its wankel engine

[BogMonster]

well ok maybe not OMC didn't know about that as my Johnson was made by OMC according to the book so I assumed it would be the same now, obviously not

but the point is, is the Johnson actually a Suzuki engine (lamb dressed as mutton) or is it a whatever else engine? Probably gonna go for it anyway as the price is good compared to others I have looked at, but just curious as to what I was going to be getting....

[Downhilldai]

Johnson 4 strokes are made by Suzuki and painted white - ok, if you like that sort of thing! In the UK, you can generally get a slightly better price on the Johnson version.
In the larger hp motors, Johnson use their own control box, but again the engines are identical otherwise to Suzukis.

[BogMonster]

Cool thanks, so it is a Suzuki

Marvellous

Thanks

[BogMonster]

A little more info on this in case it is useful for anybody in the future...

Suzuki and Johnson are identical engines all made by Suzuki in 4/5/6hp sizes, only difference is with the carbs to give the extra power so the 6hp is quite light for its output.

Ordered a 6hp Suzuki version for my aux from Outboards Direct mainly because black makes more sense than white.

Thanks for the input folks

[Poly]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

... from Outboards Direct ...

Did you know that Outboards Direct and Oakley Marine (who you were quite critical of recently) are essentially the same organisation?

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Did you know that Outboards Direct and Oakley Marine (who you were quite critical of recently) are essentially the same organisation?

Yes I did. I was initially extremely unimpressed at waiting over 2 months for a reply to an email because one of my pet hates is suppliers who ignore me when I want to spend money! I had not dealt with them in the past (didn't have a boat) but a number of people here do, and speak highly of them, which was why I persevered.

However when I eventually did get an answer back from Charles Oakley he couldn't have been more helpful, was very apologetic and explained why he had missed my emails etc etc.

He also came up with a price which was by some margin better than anything else I had seen. So my initial impression was poor but I am glad I persevered

[roaisland]

Had to have both my 200 hp Etecs changed after failure at 60 hrs. from new. Took the Johnson 225 4s option as these would plug and play my existing wiring loom, controls and gauges. Did not have time to choose Honda or Yamaha as had to keep a contract alive. These ''Johnsons'' are in fact SUZUKI from top to bottom, quiet, economical (1/2 the consumption of the Etecs yes 1/2) Am happy with them and will never go back to Etecs. Jerry