blew my motor up :(

I would not get another Force if were me as there are lots of Johnnyrudes and others out there complete with controls for 2 or 3 thousand ...frank

[willy]

Kajun, just some thoughts based on my personal experience for what it is worth to you. I had a 50 horse Force that came on a 18 foot tin boat that I used a lot. It was a good basic inexpensive engine built on a Merc block and out sourced peripheral parts to keep cost down. It was never intended to be a top line and durable engine. Mine was reliable while I had it but it was very low hours. And even though I will get some sh!t about this this is my own humble opinion based on three engines and numerous friends experience, unless you are a good marine mechanic Mercury's will nickle and dime you to death, they will leave you stranded 3 to 1 or more compared to just about every other make out there. The Force was a inexpensive version of these motors so if you got some good running time out of the one you had count your blessings and move on to another make.
It kills me to say this because they are American made which is very important to me but very hard to live up to sometimes.
Some guys here are a lot more mechanicaly inclined than yours truly and could make a Jaberwarthy Marine engine from the 1940's run on nothing but their self produced methane if they had to and God Bless them but for the average bloke like me Mercury is a dead issue in my opinion.
Now after all the arrows pass overhead I will tell you that you can find a good used Johnson/Evinrude for a good price now and if you can get your hands on a Yamaha 2 stroke you will probably have the best two stroke engines ever made. If you are going four stroke then you can pick any one of the Yippanese models cause they are all good. And of course you got the ETECS of which I am holding my opinion in reserve at this point. ;)

[msbhammer]

Willy, I agree with you. Its ashame, that as proud as we are for being americans, products in America are not the top of the line. I have always thought this way since being a kid. A short story. I borrowed 20 bucks from my dad when I was a kid ti by a bicycle. The bicycle was only a block away. On the way home from buying it, the seat post completely broke off. The seat post was stamped "Made in America" :(
I dislike seeing everything that says "Made In Japan", but I guess they have better pride in in there job, I dont know. :-[ :-[ :-[

[reelapeelin]

Used to be made in America meant something...our politicians gave it all away w/ NAFTA and simular agreements...they get to line their pockets and rape ours... >:( ...

Sorry about your motor, Kajun...hope it all turns out your way ... :D ...

[msbhammer]

Boat shop is up for auction next Sat. Selling off everything, boats, trailers, motors, you name it. I'll look for a Force for ya if ya want.

[garycorbett]

FORCE is MERCURY with a force name on the hood - it is identical to equivalnet merc models and it is merc poor quality

[parishht]

MSBHAMMER,
which boat shop is up for auction?

[msbhammer]

Cant think of the name off hand, but its the only boat place on route south of 5 points. In the area of 1 and 24 on the southbound side. Its in the Cape Gazzette newspaper. Starts at 10 am.

[Seacrets]

An engine blows a piston due to mud clogging the cooling system and the motor brand is junk? Mercury is junk? To think mine (150 hp V6) ran for 22 years with the original oil pump still hooked up. I could have bought any brand I wanted, but I bought another Mercury. This is personal preference guys. Not all forum members have Yamahas, Etecs, EFI's or 4 strokes. We do however get a little tired hearing our brands are junk. Not all of us have V20 trailer queens either. We're out fishing almost every weekend (that's why I choose to live in Florida). Also good maintenance, quality oil and parts doesn't hurt, regardless of brand. Sorry for the rant. Just my $.02.

[Blue_Runner]

Also good maintenance, quality oil and parts doesn't hurt, regardless of brand.

Amen to that Seacrets.