| DISCOUNT MARINE PARTS |
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If you are interested in the history of the Hartford, Wisconsin Manufacturing plant. The progression of manufacturing starts in 1908 with the old Kissel Auto Company. This plant manufactured many engine makes ending with the Force Brand. (See Kissel in outboard drop-down box on home page of this Website)In January of 1984 Bayliner Corporation bought the entire plant and outboard operation from Chrysler. Bayliner form a new company called "U.S. Marine" to run the outboard division. The outboard hoods were individually labeled Chrysler or Force. In the following year Chrysler was phased out and the outboard sported the "Force" name.
Bayliner Corporation (U.S. Marine) continued to promote and sell a pre-rigged boat and motor package, something that Chrysler had started with Starcraft in 1983 - 1984.
In 1986 "The Brunswick Corporation" sent shock waves through the boating industry when it Purchased "Bayliner Marine Corporation" and "Sea Ray industries". It had already owned Mercury Outboard Motors and the Mercruiser Line, since 1961 and added Mariner Outboard in 1975. Some say this was the beginning of the end for "Johnson and Evinrude (OMC)" as we knew them. (See "Mercury" in outboard drop-down box on home page of this Website for additional history)
Brunswick continued to buy and sell boat manufacturers in the coming years. They also continued to pre-rigged boat and motor packages with most of their boat brands. This concept had given a lift to the Force Outboard sales. Outboards sold in these pre-rigged packages carried a special model number indicating the boat manufacture they were packaged with. (Below there is a table with the Key Codes)
Under the leadership of the Brunswick corporation the Force Outboard evolved until 1999, when the name was dropped. In the preceding years brunswick slowly replaced the inner workings of the Force Motor with the Mercury Motor, but still kept the Force name. Some of the models used Force power heads and Mercury lower units. The lower horse powers were the last to go and in 2000 the Force name was gone.
Brunswick Corp. started migrating some production of the Force outboard to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin in 1987 and by 1989 all marine production was gone from Hartford plant. This ended a long rich history of marine products from this facility.
As of this writing of 2007, the old plant has been used as a Metal Fabricating facility. The history is a testimony, that all things change, but the memories remain.
Hard core parts for these outboards are getting more difficult to find as time goes on. Many older outboards used common Ignition and Carburetor venders for that period. Discount Marine Parts has Ignition and Carburetor repair kits for most all of these older outboards. If we don't have what your looking for, we have many sources to locate your part. Obviously some parts are just not available. We can sometimes find it used and often we have the part made if there is enough demand. Discount Marine Parts has a large inventory of parts for most brands of American made Outboards, Inboards and Sterndrives. We also have most parts and service manuals available.
Thank you for stopping by and please come back!
| MODEL TYPE KEY CODE |
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| M - Manual |
| E - Electric |
| H - Handle |
| L - 20" Long Shaft |
| XL - 25" Extra Long Shaft |
| XXL - 30" Extra Extra Long Shaft |
| PT - Power Trim |
| 858T8A | Example: 1988 85hp Packaged with Glastron Boat |
| Engine Letter Code | Brunswick Corporation Boat Brand | Notes |
| A | Maxum | |
| D | Godfrey | |
| I | Invader | |
| K | Renken | |
| L | Larson | |
| M | Cajun | |
| N | Bonito | |
| P | Mirrow | |
| R | Grumman | |
| S | Sportcraft | |
| T | Glastron | |
| V | VIP | |
| W | Wellcraft | |
| X | Spectrum | Up to 15 H.P. |
| X | Bayliner | 25 H.P. and Up |
| Y | Blue Finn |
| Discount Marine Parts | ||
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| Phone | 4524 D Road • PO Box 98 | Fax |
| 906-466-2180 | Bark River, MI 49807 | 906-466-0217 |
