The first outboard motor was created in the early 1900s.  They were designed to make traveling on the water fast, easy and convenient.  The outboard motor was developed as a self-contained unit with an engine and a propeller.  It is mounted on the stern (rear) of the boat, and is designed to propel small boats.

In 1909, a Norwegian-American inventor, Ole Evinrude, created the first marketable generation of outboard motors.  The Evinrude Outboard Co. made thousands of three horsepower units and sold them all over he world.  

Most outboard motors have been two-stroke cycle powerheads fitted with a carburetor. They are simple, reliable, and also are relatively low in cost, yet have high power-to-weight ratios.  The weight ratio is very important, because too much weight at the stern of the boat will impede the handling. Some of the many two-stroke outboard motor manufacturers include Mercury, Briggs and Stratton, Evinrude, Johnson, Honda, Yamaha, Mariner, Nissian, Suzki, and Tohatsu.

In today’s market the four-stroke engine is becoming increasingly popular, it’s environmentally friendly, and better on gas mileage.  Honda Marine has been marketing small four-stroke outboards since the early 70s, and other brands have been producing them for over 100 years, in smaller quantity.   The manufactures of four-stroke motors include Johnson, Honda, Mercury, Nissan, Suzuki, Tohatsu and Yamaha.