Re: BEARCAT 85-HP Engine

A conversation among Whalers
Oldslowandugly
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Re: BEARCAT 85-HP Engine

Postby Oldslowandugly » Tue Feb 20, 2018 5:20 pm

[This discussion has been separated from a thread in MARKETPLACE in which a notice of FOR SALE was made for a Bearcat 85-HP engine.--jimh]

I believe the Bearcat engines were originally offered by the Fischer-Pierce company to complement the new Boston Whalers. I remember seeing ads for them in ancient copies of Salt Water Sportsman. That would be the early 1960's. Even a [new and never sold] engine motor would be over 50-years-old. They are collector's items to some and for good reason. They were four stroke outboards that were way ahead of their time. If you have an original 1960's Whaler this motor mounted on the stern would be quite the conversation starter. Parts may be a problem but they were dependable for the era.

jimh
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Re: BEARCAT 85 HP OUTBOARD ENGINE FOR SALE

Postby jimh » Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:47 pm

Oldslowandugly wrote:I believe the Bearcat engines were originally offered by the Fischer-Pierce company...

There is a rather well-researched and lengthy history of the Bearcat 55-HP engine in the REFERENCE section at

Fisher Pierce Bearcat Outboards
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/history/bearcat.html

It gives quite a good account of the history of the Fisher-Pierce outboard engines. You might find reading it will be helpful to confirm your beliefs. It briefly mentions the Bearcat 85-HP.

I remarked in a discussion from c.2002 that the 85-HP Bearcat was rare. It was only in production for two years, and I believe that would have been c.1971 to 1972. It was based on a 1100-cc block made by Coventry Climax, an English engine maker.

At one time there other websites that tried to collect information about Bearcat engines, but they are often now dead links.

Don SSDD
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Re: Bearcat 85-HP Engines

Postby Don SSDD » Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:53 pm

I have a friend who has [a Bearcat engine] on a stand, I don't remember what HP. It was re-built by a pro years ago and never started.
1986 Outrage 18 with 2001 Honda 130 HP
Former Owner 1991 Guardian 19 with 1994 Evinrude V4 140HP
Former owner 1987 Montauk with 1998 Mercury 90HP
Nova Scotia

frontier
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Re: Bearcat 85-HP Engines

Postby frontier » Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:28 pm

Regarding the company Economy 4 Cycle Marine in Redding, California, here is a headline from a local newspaper in 2017 : "At 97, Redding business owner not ready to quit yet".
Amazing. He still sells rebuilt and modernized Homelite - Bearcat 55 HP outboards for $1995.00 (or without updates: $1695.00.)

Oldslowandugly
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Re: Bearcat 85-HP Engines

Postby Oldslowandugly » Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:36 pm

Jim- what a great read. Thanks! By converting to electronic ignition, those motors sound pretty competitive. And high performance camshafts? Wow! The only thing I would not like is the pin-drive prop shaft. If they were anything like the old OMC pin drives, hitting anything harder than a fish would break it. Here is another guy supporting those motors. http://www.robertsmaritimesystems.com/Bearcat_Outboard_Support.php

jimh
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Re: Bearcat 85-HP Engines

Postby jimh » Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:50 pm

There is a Wikipedia article about Coventry Climax engines. The article mentions an inline four-cylinder 1098-cc displacement engine designated the FWA, in production in the mid-1950's. See

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Climax#FW

This may be the engine used in the Bearcat 85-HP engine. The automobile FWA engine is said to have produced 71-HP.

jimh
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Re: BEARCAT 85-HP Engine

Postby jimh » Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:58 pm

Oldslowandugly wrote:If you have an original 1960's Whaler this motor mounted on the stern would be quite the conversation starter.


I don't think the Bearcat 85-HP outboard was available until about 1971. You would have never seen one on a 1960-era Boston Whaler unless the boat had been re-powered.

The only photographs I know that show a vintage Boston Whaler boat with a Bearcat 85-HP engine are the photoraphs in this article:
"Yachting" EYES A BOAT
OUTRAGE III
A versatile 21-footer evolved from the well known Whaler

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/refere ... ABoat.html

The boat shown is Dick Fisher's personal boat, a c.1971 OUTRAGE 21 powered by a single Bearcat 85 outboard.

Oldslowandugly wrote:Parts may be a problem...


I agree that finding any parts for repair or replacement in a Bearcat 85-HP engine would be difficult.

Oldslowandugly wrote:...they were dependable for the era.


It seems hard to know how dependable a Bearcat 85-HP engine was. The engine was only in production for perhaps two years. There probably can't be more than a handful still in existence. Assessing their dependability would seem impossible. My impression from their short life span on the market is perhaps they weren't the greatest thing since sliced bread.

frontier
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Re: BEARCAT 85-HP Engine

Postby frontier » Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:02 pm

The 1972 Boston Whaler brochure has some good pictures of the Bearcat 85 outboard on the Minot/Katama series, a good close-up of the motor on a 16' 7" Bass Boat, and several nice pics of the 85 on the 21 Outrage, including a back cover pic with canvas.

jimh
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Re: BEARCAT 85-HP Engine

Postby jimh » Thu Feb 22, 2018 6:34 pm

I am sure FORD published some great brochures for the EDSEL. But you don't see many of them around any more.

frontier
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Re: BEARCAT 85-HP Engine

Postby frontier » Fri Feb 23, 2018 6:41 pm

My Chevy Corvair had some great brochures also.