Evinrude E-TEC and E-TEC G2 Outboards Headed out of Production

That was the news released last night by BRP and reported by Wired2Fish Editors. The BRP announcement noted that it is re-orienting its marine business by focusing on the growth of its boat brands with new technology and innovative marine products.

Said BRP officials, "We will discontinue production of these outboard engines. Our Sturtevant, Wisconsin, facility subsequently will be repurposed for new projects to pursue our plan to provide consumers with an unparalleled experience on the water.

"We remain committed to our Buy, Build, Transform Marine strategy, which has been underway since 2018, with the acquisition of Alumacraft and Manitou boat companies in the U.S., followed by the acquisition of Australian boat manufacturer Telewater in 2019.

"Our outboard engines business has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, obliging us to discontinue production of our outboard motors immediately," said Jose Boisjoli, president and CEO of BRP. "This business segment already had been facing some challenges, and the impact from the current context has forced our hand. We will concentrate our efforts on new and innovative technologies and on the development of our boat companies, where we continue to see a lot of potential to transform the on-water experience for consumers.

"Following our decision to discontinue E-TEC and E-TEC G2 outboard engines, we have signed an agreement with market leader Mercury Marine to support boat packages and continue to supply outboard engines to our boat brands.

"We will continue to supply customers and our dealer network service parts and will honor our manufacturer limited warranties, plus offer select programs to manage inventory. These decisions will impact 650 employees globally."

With this announcement, BRP will be positioned to expand its presence in the pontoon and aluminum fishing markets through technologically advanced solutions. In their words, "We will leverage our track record of ingenuity through our R&D resources to enhance the boating experience with unique new marine products, such as the next generation of engine technology with Project Ghost and the next generation of pontoons with Project M, code names for new products we expect to transform the industry.

"Lastly, we will consolidate Alumacraft operations from two sites to one. All Alumacraft operations will be transferred to St. Peter, MN, and our site in Arkadelphia, AR, will be permanently closed. In addition, we want to upgrade the boat-production facilities to reorganize manufacturing sites and apply the modularity model used elsewhere. This move is designed to enhance productivity and efficiency and to allow us to respond with even more agility to demand."

(NEW) Received the following comment from Don M: COVID-19 my arse! Evinrude tried to keep the two-stroke dream alive for us baby boomers who grew up fishing in a boat with an OMC two-smoke. Unfortunately, that costs $$$$$$. I spoke to a fella on the NW River Saturday that was running a 25 E-TEC and asked how he liked it. His response was, "Great motor, aside from the $500 fuel pump that crapped out on a motor 4 years old." I was contemplating a 25 E-TEC for a small jon boat. It was 1K more than a comparable Merc or Yami four-stroke. The sad part for me is seeing a 35-plus-year trusted name evaporate. I've had at least one Evinrude motor since 1987. The one consolation I offer is that when I'm fishing, the Evinrude is off, and the Minn Kota is in charge.