Cheap Chinese Outboard Motors

Chinese outboard motors are here and are priced pretty cheap when compared to the major makers.  While Mercury, Suzuki, Yamaha, and some others are more popular, they are also much more expensive.  While you will not find much out there for large engines, if you are looking for something for a fishing boat, rowboat, or something to use as a kicker motor or for trolling, you’ll probably like the options you need at prices you can afford.  If you are looking for a new outboard, perhaps one made and manufactured in China is right for you.  In this article, I’d like to share some of the manufacturers with you, along with some additional information you might want to consider before you go out and make your purchase.

Chongqing Zongshen Industrial Group

This company has outboard motors made in China under the brand name of Zongshen.  The 9.9 and 15 horsepower models are really good two stokes, priced very well. You can find them for sale on several online sites and prices are very reasonable.  Check out this company as you research all the brands out there.

 

Parsun Power Machine Co.

They make Parsun Chinese outboard motors in sizes of 2.5 – 40 horsepower, so they have a good range of power sizes to select.  You will find them priced very reasonably and they can be purchased on sites like eBay and through marine dealers.

Zhejiang Jinhua Weiyuan Manufacturer Co.

Seahorse outboard motors are made in China and can be purchased in multiple sizes.  Most of them are pretty small, under 40 horsepower, but there are some larger ones out there.  These are pretty cheap when compared to some of the other major makers, so you won’t have to spend too much money to get out on the water and do some fishing or even waterskiing this summer.  The make both two stroke and four stroke engines, so you can choose which is the best for you.

Taizhou Hisource International Trade Co.

Going under the brand names of Hisource and Minafull, these small outboards are generally 5hp or less, but there are some others out there.  You won’t have to spend very much money either, since they are priced much cheaper than most.

 

Guangzhou Suigo Yacht Co.

They made Hidea outboard motors and they are a Chinese manufacturer.  The main ones you will find are 4 horsepower, but there are some additional sizes available, most of them being under 25 horsepower in size.  These are four stroke outboard motors, so you’ll save money on Gas.

Should I Buy a Chinese Outboard Motor?

That’s a tough question to answer directly, but there are some considerations you will have to keep in mind before you make your decision.  The following represent some of the things which you should think about before you make your purchase.

Parts Availability:  This will likely be the biggest obstacle you will face.  First, you have to make sure the company you buy from has parts available for repairs, so you don’t end up unable to fix any issues you have.  In addition to this, you have to consider that you will likely have them shipped from China, unless there are authorized dealers in your area.  Do some research to see who has the parts, so you can make sure there are some options out there if you have any engine issues.  In addition, you will want to compare the prices of the parts to those of the major makers, just to make sure they are not priced too high to have repairs done.  Also keep in mind that your local marine repair shop might not be familiar with the brand, so it could take them longer to fix your Chinese outboard motor, adding to the repair bill.

Resale Value:  Whether you go to trade in your boat, motor, and trailer package, or you try to sell it outright, you need to consider the limited market you will likely have.  While you will pay much less for it initially, it will be harder to sell down the road, which might mean you have to take a lot less for it.  This is definitely a concern, since few of us fishermen use the same outboard engine for decades at a time without upgrading.  Since these are newer to the market, it’s very hard to figure out what you will be able to get for them down the road, say five years or more from the time you make your purchase.

Company Stability:  As with any newer markets and products, there is always some risk of the company going out of business, making parts either overpriced from the aftermarket parts for outboards sellers, or non-existent if they don’t feel there are enough of them out there to continue to make them.  Either way, if you buy an outboard motor made in China, you will need to do some research to make sure the company is likely to be around for some time to come.  This will help you make sure you have something you can repair and keep running for years to come, whether you have a two stroke or four stroke.

Price:  You can buy cheap Chinese outboard motors from a number of manufacturers, so you will end up saving quite a bit of money.  However, you will find that many sellers have a wide range of prices on them.  This is a little different from Nissan, Tohatsu, Suzuki, or Mercury, where it seems the prices are almost exactly the same no matter where you go.  Be sure you shop around carefully and look for the best possible deals you can find.  Since you will likely be making the purchase online, you will want to make sure you take the cost of shipping and handling into account as well, since it can really add to the purchase price.

While they are relatively new to the market, cheap Chinese outboard motors are likely to be around for quite some time.