

- #HONDA OUTBOARD SERIAL NUMBER MODEL YEAR SERIAL NUMBERS#
- #HONDA OUTBOARD SERIAL NUMBER MODEL YEAR CODE#
The model and serial numbers of the vertical drive should be located on the engine model and serial number plate. OMC Model Number Location OMC Engines and Outdrive The model number tag is located on the top outside edge of the CLAMP BRACKET or, on top of the SWIVEL BRACKET (port or starboard). As a buyer, you can negotiate for the newest engine - or for a discounted older one - if you know what to look for.Evinrude & Johnson Model Number Location Evinrude & Johnson In recent years, a permanent sticker typically can be found on the transom bracket, usually near the serial-number sticker, that gives the month and year of engine manufacture. The good news for consumers is that while outboard engines may not have model years, it's possible to find out when the engine was made. Manufacturers say that depreciation should not be an issue on two identical engines of the same model, regardless of age, but most buyers want the newest one available, and an older engine, even if it's indistinguishable from a newer one, is typically worth less to a first or second buyer. What if they've been damaged over time? By unknowingly buying an engine that may be one, two, or even three years older than their new boat, will they be hit with higher depreciation when it comes time to sell their boat?įortunately, the manufacturer's warranty will cover even older engines of the same model, but buyers should verify how many hours are on an engine before buying it. BoatUS members have asked BoatUS Consumer Protection about engines that may have been sitting around for two or three years. Manufacturers say that the warranty begins when the engine is sold, regardless of its build date. Fortunately, dealers usually know which engines in their stock have the most current changes, and you should ask before buying. What's considered an upgrade? In the end, the engine manufacturer gets to decide what it is and when there's enough of one to create a new model. Consumers, however, are concerned that with computer controls, mechanically identical engines could have electronic updates applied to a batch of similar models, and earlier ones might not benefit.
#HONDA OUTBOARD SERIAL NUMBER MODEL YEAR CODE#
After discontinuing model years, engine manufacturers replaced the model-year designator on the engine's serial number with a code that signifies an "era" in which all engines are supposed to be the same, with similar upgrades. While that's true, buyers are concerned that if there's no model-year designation, they don't know if they're getting the newest technology.įortunately, there's still a way to determine when an outboard was built. Outboard manufacturers say that until they make a significant change to an engine, the year it was built is irrelevant. Other outboard manufacturers, including Mercury and Honda, adopted Yamaha's practice, and most outboard engines today don't have model-year designations. Buyers typically want a 2017 engine, for example, on their 2017 boat.Įliminating the model year solves the problem for the manufacturer and dealer but can be confusing for buyers. If it takes a couple of years to finally sell that 200-hp engine, a buyer may be reluctant to buy it if the model year isn't current, and the dealer may have to subsequently discount it. If a boat on the showroom floor comes with a 200-hp engine but a buyer wants a 250-hp engine, the dealer may have to order the bigger engine and keep the smaller one in stock. Dealers have struggled for years to make sure that the engines bought from an engine manufacturer during one year get sold that same year on new boats. Unlike cars, in which engines are built into the product, a selection of engines usually can be fitted on outboard boats. Though the reasoning is sound, it creates a challenge for consumers.

In 2007, Yamaha stopped designating model years for its outboard engines entirely. The Coast Guard has no model-year regulations for outboard engines, making it harder for consumers to determine the year in which they were built. Usually be found on a sticker near the engine's The month and year of engine manufacture can
