This article presents information to allow decoding of Evinrude and Johnson outboard engine model designators that use an alphanumeric encoding. There are three distinct epochs in model designators: prior to 2003, the introduction of the E-TEC engine; after 2012, when model year designation was eliminated; and after 2014, following the introduction of the E-TEC G2 engines.
For many years Evinrude and Johnson used a system of encoding engine model data as shown in the tables illustration below. Engine production epoch was identified by a model year designator.
With the introduction of the E-TEC engine, Evinrude added a code "D" to the design feature field. In 2010 when E-TEC engines were available with ICON Electronic Shift and Throttle controls (EST controls), a prefix D was added. The letter "D" now had three possible meanings, depending on where in the code it appeared. The prefix "B" indicated a special engine version that meet emission restrictions on certain Swiss Lakes.
In c.2012 Evinrude droppped use of a model year designator and began to specify the engine production epoch with a three letter code. (See below for explanation) In 2014 Evinrude introduced their second generation of E-TEC engine, the E-TEC G2 models. A new system of model prefixes was added called ENGINE FAMILY IDENTIFICATION and used for the new G2 engines.
As shown above, the model code C150PLHABA decodes as follows:
To avoid confusion, because Evinrude had previously used the the letters C, D, E, I, N, O, R, S, T, and U to encode model years, they avoid using those letters to encode their new MODEL IDENTIFICATION Field. This results in the sequence of model versions being AA, AB, AF, AG, AH, and so on.
Another model code chart was used for the legacy or non-G2 engines which began to use the AA AB AF production epoch codes:
Around 2018 Evinrude added addition elements to the model code, as shown in the chart below:
Note the inclusion of an "H" prefix (FAMILY IDENTIFICATION) for certain G2 models with production code suffix AGH or newer as specified in the note for the triple asterisk at the chart bottom.
In c.2020 Evinrude update the model codes further, to include the in-line three cylinder G2 E-TEC models, and published this G2-ONLY chart:
This chart is the latest known version of model code identifications.
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Copyright © 2020 by James W. Hebert. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited!
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This article first appeared April 2020.
Author: James W. Hebert