Mariner no more?

[Fenlander]

I've just received an email from E P Barrus stating...

"Mercury Marine has made the strategic decision to focus exclusively on the Mercury brand, meaning Mariner outboards will no longer be available for purchase"

Further investigation finds...

"Production of new 4 stroke Mariner outboards for the leisure sector will stop. Mariner will continue its heritage in the 2-stroke commercial markets for the likes of the RNLI and Ministry of Defence"

I rather liked the silver top look of their portable outboards, at least they're keeping the classic commercial 2-strokes.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Had a 40 2 stroke mariner on a rib brilliant motor and bomb proof

[Croolis]

I had the email. My first SIB motor (going up for sale soon if anyone interested, only 20 hours on it) is a Mariner 2.5hp 4 stroke. They are just Mercury rebadged though innit.

[mhill]

Originally Posted by Croolis

I had the email. My first SIB motor (going up for sale soon if anyone interested, only 20 hours on it) is a Mariner 2.5hp 4 stroke. They are just Mercury rebadged though innit.

The RNLI 50 2 strokes are rebadged Tohatsu units.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Croolis

They are just Mercury rebadged though innit.

The smaller units are rebadged Tohatsu IIRC, same as their Mercury siblings. From memory, Mariner was a brandname used by Mercury for cheap exports. For a time the small units were rebadged Yamahas?

This is like a wake for a bigamist with multiple personalities and a fake ID...

[69cmw]

This was announced last year regarding Mariner engines

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by willk

The smaller units are rebadged Tohatsu IIRC, same as their Mercury siblings. From memory, Mariner was a brandname used by Mercury for cheap exports. For a time the small units were rebadged Yamahas?

This is like a wake for a bigamist with multiple personalities and a fake ID...

Think the only engineering they did was badge engineering, pretty sure everything sold with a mariner badge is available under another name no great loss realy

[beerbelly]

my mariner 115 CT is identical in every way except for the cowling colours / decals to the mercury 115 CT same for my mariner 3.5 there the same thing in a different dress

[Fenlander]

I am your human ChatGPT re Mariner.

In the 70s Mercury thought a secondary brand might increase their market share and introduced Mariner which were Yamaha clones, first sold in Australia then Europe and US. They were sometimes outgoing Yamaha models and the Mariner brand gained a positive reputation for these well proven reliable models but bought new with warranty under the Mariner label. I had three Mariners of this period and they were excellent.

Then some sort of interference from the Federal Trade Commission ended the Yamaha tie up (late 80s perhaps) and Mariner models became cloned from existing Mercury models. The thinking behind retaining Mariner was that the brand had established itself with sound reliable motors appealing to commercial users and leisure users who found the Mercury image a bit too flashy. Loyal buyers of Mariner models believed in their reliability and of course they were usually marketed just under Mercury prices.

And so it continued until the announcement last Autumn which for some reason they are only now mailing out to registered owners.

[beerbelly]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I am your human ChatGPT re Mariner.

In the 70s Mercury thought a secondary brand might increase their market share and introduced Mariner which were Yamaha clones, first sold in Australia then Europe and US. They were sometimes outgoing Yamaha models and the Mariner brand gained a positive reputation for these well proven reliable models but bought new with warranty under the Mariner label. I had three Mariners of this period and they were excellent.

Then some sort of interference from the Federal Trade Commission ended the Yamaha tie up (late 80s perhaps) and Mariner models became cloned from existing Mercury models. The thinking behind retaining Mariner was that the brand had established itself with sound reliable motors appealing to commercial users and leisure users who found the Mercury image a bit too flashy. Loyal buyers of Mariner models believed in their reliability and of course they were usually marketed just under Mercury prices.

And so it continued until the announcement last Autumn which for some reason they are only now mailing out to registered owners.

#dont think they were any cheaper certainly the 2 i have were bought new and the same price as a mercury i just preferred the silver

[Fenlander]

Yep the silver looked really nice with my grey Aerotec.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

#dont think they were any cheaper certainly the 2 i have were bought new and the same price as a mercury i just preferred the silver

Same as. When I bought my 15hp Merc I was offered a "silver" Mariner at the same price. Went for the Merc as the black hood went better with a red sib. I know I'm shallow, but I was told it's the same OB.

[Croolis]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Went for the Merc as the black hood went better with a red sib. I know I'm shallow, but I was told it's the same OB.

Went for the Mariner over the Mercury because it was a few quid cheaper. I know I lack style but that's 'cos I'm poor.

[9D280]

Rebadging? No idea what you mean?

I forget now the mod I made that resulted in the original cover not fitting.... From memory the Mariner PT ram was essentially a Yam part (but lurked inside the bracket) rather then the 1960s Merc PT that had an external pump & rams and miles of hydraulic hose.... Bottom line the original cover panel ended up with something hydraulic in the way and I've yet to find a twistlock Merc one!

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Rebadging? No idea what you mean?

I forget now the mod I made that resulted in the original cover not fitting.... From memory the Mariner PT ram was essentially a Yam part (but lurked inside the bracket) rather then the 1960s Merc PT that had an external pump & rams and miles of hydraulic hose.... Bottom line the original cover panel ended up with something hydraulic in the way and I've yet to find a twistlock Merc one!

Apologies, going off thread here. Welcome back 9D280! Mariner clamshells, now that's a phrase I haven't heard for a year or so. My money on your absence (and might I add has been to the detriment of the site) is you've been banged up at His Majesty's pleasure, either that or you've been fitting at en-suite and Jacuzzi!

[9D280]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Apologies, going off thread here. Welcome back 9D280! Mariner clamshells, now that's a phrase I haven't heard for a year or so. My money on your absence (and might I add has been to the detriment of the site) is you've been banged up at His Majesty's pleasure, either that or you've been fitting at en-suite and Jacuzzi!

No to the pleasure, -ish to the other! The en-suite JAccuzi was more of demoiolishing a self-destruct conservatory & replacing woth real briskks & a proper roof!

The Rib now has terminal tube leaks - I used to have to pump the front section up every hour or so, now would need an electric pump running 24/7 to keep it up, so the trailer is up on blocks until I can save up (at the last check) around £4.5K to re- tube it.

Been playing with the "dinghy" (Avon S3.40) in the meantime, using the rib's Aux. Got a power upgrade plan in the form of an assortment of bits for a working Longshaft '71 (ish) 'Rude 20, and a siezed powerhead Johnson short shaft of similar vintage... You can probably guess what the next project is once I unearth the Workbench aftert the builders left.... Suffice to say I appear to be getting a habbit for Mixed livery engnes!

I have spotted a reasonably good looking Mariner (Yam? ) 15 premix on Gumtree which is a tempting quick fix but as it's priced at between 1/4 & 1/5 of the way to the new toobs it;s not such a no brainer...

And thanks for being the first to spot me!