The Evolution Of Boats And Engines: A Historical Perspective

The history of boats and engines is a long and fascinating one, with many notable pioneers and inventions over the years. The term motorboat generally refers to vessels propelled by internal combustion engines, and the development of this technology can be traced back to the 19th century with the invention of the internal combustion engine. The first boat to be powered by a petrol engine was tested on the Neckar River by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1886. Since then, there have been numerous advancements and innovations in the world of boating, with companies like Evinrude, Johnson, and Yamaha becoming household names in the industry. The outboard motor, in particular, has an interesting history, with legends and controversies surrounding its invention. Today, motorboats serve a variety of purposes, from work and recreation to sports and racing, and continue to evolve with new technologies and designs.

The first outboard motor was built by Ole Evinrude in 1907

The idea for Evinrude's invention was inspired by a picnic he enjoyed with his assistant, Bessie Cary, on Okauchee Lake, in the lake country west of Milwaukee. The story goes that Cary expressed a desire for a dish of ice cream, and Evinrude rowed back to shore to fetch some. By the time he returned, the ice cream had melted, but Evinrude was inspired to design an engine that would replace the oar as a means of boat propulsion.

Evinrude's first outboard motor employed a vertical crankshaft, horizontal flywheels, and a set of bevel gears. While the technology has remained largely the same, modern motors can propel boats at much faster speeds (up to 150 mph, compared to 5 mph for the 1907 version).

In 1907, Evinrude founded Evinrude Motors in Milwaukee, and the company immediately began developing its first outboard motor. The firm became a major player in the industry, and Evinrude is credited with building an empire that endures today.

Evinrude's invention was the first outboard motor with practical commercial application. It was built of steel and brass and had a crank on the flywheel to start the two-cycle engine. This first gasoline-powered outboard motor marked a significant milestone in the history of marine transportation, making it possible for average fishermen and weekend boaters to enjoy the pleasures of motorised boats.

Evinrude's invention was inspired by a need to get ice cream for his fiancée, Bess

The invention of the outboard motor is often attributed to Ole Evinrude, an American-Norwegian immigrant who was born in 1877 and passed away in 1934. Evinrude's invention was inspired by a desire to get ice cream for his fiancée, Bess, on a hot summer day in 1906. The story goes that Evinrude and Bess were picnicking on Okauchee Lake in Wisconsin when Bess expressed a desire for some ice cream. Evinrude, in the flush of youthful affection, rowed to shore and back to fulfil her request. However, by the time he returned, the ice cream had melted. This experience inspired Evinrude to forsake the paddle as a means of water propulsion and invent a motor that could be clamped onto the back of a boat.

Evinrude's invention was a natural extension of the gas combustion engine, which had been developed in the late 19th century. At the time, individuals were experimenting with portable electric and gas engines that could be adapted to rowboats. Evinrude, who had worked as an apprentice machinist and studied engineering, was well-equipped to take on this challenge. After three years of development, he produced his first outboard motor in 1909. This motor was a sixty-five-pound, water-cooled, 1.5-horsepower, single-cylinder design. It was an immediate success, and all 15 engines produced that year were sold immediately.

The Evinrude Detachable Rowboat Motor Company was formed in 1909 by Evinrude and his wife, Bess. The company's success was due in part to Bess's business acumen and advertising expertise. The Evinrude brand quickly became known for its reliability and quiet operation, as it was one of the first to vent its exhaust underwater. By 1911, the company had formed a partnership with tugboat magnate Chris Meyer, further increasing its demand and capital.

In 1913, Evinrude sold his half of the company to Meyer for $137,000 as Bess's health had taken a turn for the worse. However, he continued to explore new designs and, in 1919, he manufactured a two-cylinder, three-horsepower aluminium motor that weighed only 48 pounds. This motor delivered twice as much power for reduced weight and was an instant success. Evinrude's innovations and dependability solidified his company's reputation in the industry.

The Evinrude brand has since become one of the most popular motors for maritime leisure craft and one of the few American manufacturing names to last over a century. The company, now called Evinrude Outboard Motors, is currently owned by Bombardier Recreational Products. Evinrude's invention, inspired by his desire to bring ice cream to his beloved Bess, revolutionised water propulsion and left a lasting impact on the world of maritime transportation.

The Evinrude Detachable Rowboat Motor Company was founded by Ole and Bess in 1909

The Evinrude Detachable Rowboat Motor Company was founded by Norwegian-born Ole Evinrude and his wife Bess in 1909. Evinrude, a mechanical savant with an interest in horseless carriages, is known for inventing the first outboard motor with practical commercial application.

The story goes that in 1906, Evinrude and his fiancé Bess Cary were picnicking on an island in the middle of Wisconsin's Okauchee Lake when Bess said she wanted some ice cream. Evinrude rowed five miles to get some, but by the time he returned, it had melted into soup. "Too bad I don't have one of my little engines somehow propelling this sucker," he thought. This inspired him to create the first outboard motor.

In 1907, Evinrude built the first outboard motor, made of steel and brass, with a crank on the flywheel to start the two-cycle engine. Two years later, he founded the Evinrude Detachable Rowboat Motor Company, producing a water-cooled, single-cylinder design with the cylinder projecting inboard forward of the transom. The company's success was due in part to Bess's advertising skills and business sense. Their motors were an immediate hit, and in one day, Evinrude sold his entire inventory of 25 outboards and took orders for 10 more. Each motor generated 1.5 horsepower, weighed 62 pounds, and cost $62.

In 1919, Evinrude invented a more efficient and lighter two-cylinder motor. He founded the Elto Outboard Motor Company (ELTO), which stood for "Evinrude Light Twin Outboard." Despite stiff competition, the company survived through acquisitions, eventually forming the Outboard Marine Corporation.

In 1929, Elto Company and Johnson Motors merged with Evinrude

In 1929, the Elto Company and Johnson Motors merged with Evinrude. This merger was the result of a complex series of business deals and rivalries within the outboard motor industry.

Ole Evinrude, the Norwegian-born founder of Evinrude, invented the first outboard motor in 1907. However, he sold his company in 1913 due to his wife's health issues and signed an agreement to stay out of the outboard motor business for five years. During this time, he developed a new, improved two-cylinder outboard engine. In 1919, he founded the Elto Outboard Motor Company (ELTO), which stood for Evinrude Light Twin Outboard. This new company was an immediate success, especially with fishing fleets, and soon caught the attention of its competitors, including the Johnson Motor Company.

The Johnson brothers began producing their own lightweight, smooth-operating outboard in 1921 and quickly gained market share. By 1927, Johnson's profits far outpaced those of Evinrude and ELTO. In 1928, Evinrude and his wife formed the Outboard Motor Corporation with Briggs and Stratton, who had previously acquired Evinrude Motors. This set the stage for the 1929 merger, which consolidated the two Evinrude companies and the Lockwood Motor Company under the Outboard Marine Corporation banner, with Evinrude as president.

The newly merged company faced challenges almost immediately due to the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression. The company struggled financially and had to increase its debt significantly to stay afloat. Despite these difficulties, the Outboard Marine Corporation went on to become a major player in the outboard motor industry, and the Evinrude name endures to this day, even though the company has changed hands several times and faced bankruptcy multiple times throughout its history.

Evinrude's parent company, OMC, filed for bankruptcy in 1999

The year of a boat and its engine can vary depending on the make and model. To provide a specific answer, I'll need the make and model of the boat and engine in question. However, I can tell you about Evinrude Outboard Motors and its parent company, the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), which filed for bankruptcy in the year 2000.

The History of Evinrude Outboard Motors

Ole Evinrude founded Evinrude Outboard Motors in 1907 after inventing the first practical and reliable outboard motor. The company produced two-stroke internal combustion engines powered by a mixture of gasoline and oil. By 1912, the firm employed 300 workers, and Evinrude allowed two motorcycle-mad teens, one named Arthur Davidson, to tinker in his Milwaukee-based machine shop. Arthur Davidson would go on to co-found Harley-Davidson.

In 1913, Evinrude sold his company to take care of his sick wife, Bess. However, he returned to the industry in 1919, inventing a more efficient and lighter two-cylinder motor. He founded the ELTO Outboard Motor Company (ELTO being an acronym for "Evinrude Light Twin Outboard"), which survived through acquisitions and eventually formed the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC).

The Rise of OMC

OMC was a multibillion-dollar Fortune 500 corporation and the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of outboard motors, second only to Brunswick Corporation in powerboat production. In addition to Evinrude, OMC also produced the Johnson and Gale Outboard Motor brands. They owned several lines of boats, including Chris Craft, Lowe Boats, Princecraft, Four Winns, SeaSwirl, Stratos, and Javelin. They also owned Lawn-Boy and Ryan, manufacturers of lawn mowers.

OMC's Decline and Bankruptcy

Despite their success, OMC struggled to keep up with competition and adapt to changing environmental regulations. They faced serious financial troubles and laid off hundreds of employees in the 1990s. In 1998, they announced the closure of their Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Waukegan, Illinois, plants.

OMC's adoption of the "FICHT" fuel-injected technology from Germany, intended to meet EPA regulations, faced issues during development and testing due to high-pressure issues in the cylinders. Despite these challenges, OMC engineers declared the motor ready for release in 2000. However, a media event showcasing the new technology ended in disaster, with multiple boats experiencing engine failures during the test run.

As a result, OMC president David Jones resigned, and the company laid off 7,000 employees. OMC filed for bankruptcy in December 2000, marking the end of a multibillion-dollar company that had been in business since 1907.

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