Eric Sorensen Producing Quotations

The EFI four-stroke segment is still the benchmark of the outboard industry in terms of quality and satisfaction. From top to bottom, there are some outstanding engines being produced in this segment. However, the brands in the DI two-stroke segment have made some substantial improvements in 2005 and they are clearly producing some of the best engines in the industry. We also see a change in that carbureted four-strokes no longer outperform EFI two-stroke outboards as a result of EFI two-strokes improving and carbureted four-stroke engines declining. The gap between the two four-stroke technologies is now the widest we have seen.

In a number of ways, manufacturers have to dig deeper into their engineering toolboxes to find ways to make gains in customer satisfaction. The industry has peaked, at least temporarily, and it will take renewed efforts to again move the competitive bar higher. With the percentage of first-time boat buyers now declining, it's very important to first attract and then keep people in boating, and part of the solution is producing the finest possible engines.