The Johnson name has been around since the early 1900s when it was one of the most respected names in the business. They seemed to be able to get more power out of small motors than was thought to be possible at the time. The Great Depression ended Johnson's run as a fully family-owned business; they were later bought out and incorporated into the Outboard Marine and Manufacturing Corporation (OMC).

OMC was owned and operated by two other well respected names in the engine business, Steve Briggs and Ralph Evinrude. They built the Evinrude and Johnson brands into behemoths in the boating world. Johnson outboards power everything from light, recreational fishing crafts to swift, rugged, military assault and landing crafts. Johnson outboards were built with high standards for quality and it is not uncommon to see one still working after several decades.

The new century brought a new start for the Johnson and Evinrude brands as they were bought and incorporated into Bombardier of Canada. Bombardier Recreational Products is the company behind the snowmobile, Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo watercraft, and a host of other products. BRP has introduced some of the industry's strongest warranties for both Johnson and Evinrude engines.

Because they have always enjoyed a certain degree of popularity and respectability, aftermarket Johnson outboards are quite common. You can also find manuals and replacement parts to help you with maintenance of most 2-stroke or 4-stroke engines. If you take proper care of a Johnson motor, there is no reason it should not provide dependable service for many years.