Re: 1996 75 HP Force Mercury
If my understanding is correct, that motor was labeled as a 70hp from like 1991-1995, then rebadged as 'Force by Mercury" (or, "Tracker by Mercury", as the case may be) and re-rated to 75hp from 1996-1999. Same engine, though.. At least, that's *my* understanding.. Double check me, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong..
What I can tell you with absolute certainty is that I have a 1992 Force 70HP motor that's given me good service and still runs really, really well.. If I were buying again, I certainly wouldn't avoid a mid-90's Force -- indeed, I'd actually go **looking** for a mid-90's Force because I personally view them as a simplified Mercury, and because enough people are 'askeered of them that the price is usually favorable as compared to a similar model year Mercury in a similar HP (even though there's usually less to go wrong on a Force).
It's funny how things work out sometimes, but think about this... If you go buy a car today and it's got manual windows and locks, cloth seats, headlights that you actually have to flip on and off by hand when it gets dark (gasp!), a manual transmission, etc., that car is going to look pretty "bare bones" compared to cars with all the bells and whistles. It's functional, but not all that impressive.
Now fast forward about 10yrs.. When you advertise that car used on Craigslist with 150,000 - 200,000mi and say it's got manual windows, locks, a 5spd, etc., people don't see "bare bones"... They see a car that's 'safer' to buy because there's a whole lot less to go wrong with it.. Ever priced a window motor!? lol!
And basically, a "Force by Mercury"-era outboard is that car.
In fact, Force by Merc is why there's such a thing as the "SPL" motors from OMC.. The 28SPL, 48SPL, 88SPL, 112SPL -- those motors are less expensive, simplified OMCs which were created as an answer to Merc's inexpensive Force motor... And you still see a lot of the old SPLs on the water today!
Just sayin....there's something to be said for simplicity!
