2000 Force 90 HP, same as Mercury?

[TomB985]

Hi everyone

I've been looking for a nice outboard bowrider for awhile and have found a few mid '90s Bayliners with Force outboards. I don't know much about them other than that they were owned by Brunswick at that point.

Now I'm looking at a 2000 bayliner 1600 with the 90 HP Force engine. Is this the same as a Mercury 90? I'm just trying to figure out if parts are going to be commonly available for it as well as get a feel for it's overall reliability.

Thanks!

 

[roscoe]

Re: 2000 Force 90 HP, same as Mercury?

No it is not the same as a Merc 90.

Force motors ceased production in 1999.
Throughout the 90's, they used older obsolete Merc parts, many of those parts are no longer available.
Most consumable parts are still available.

I prefer the 1995-1999 Force motors, over the 1985-1994 versions.
Some of the other guys on here prefer the older ones.

Anyways, the motors are not the same, some parts are not available.
The motor is only as good as its caregiver.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 2000 Force 90 HP, same as Mercury?

Hmmm! I thought the last year for Force brand was 1999. Anyway, they are not the same. Mercury did change components and some mercury parts will fit (notably propellers). But even though the midleg and lower units are Mercury design, you must still use force parts. The engine block is regular Force modified to use Mercury controls and ignition is mercury designed--not sure if you can use regular Merc components there.