Club BRP 2017 Evinrude G2 Launch Event

The Club BRP Evinrude 2017 event was held in Milwaukee, WI from June 25-27, with the primary focus being the launch of the new Evinrude G2 150-200-horsepower engines, including the G2 150 H.O. These engines represent the new generation of smaller V6 outboards, building on the technology of the larger 200 H.O. to 300 horsepower models launched in 2014.

It was a spectacular event in every sense, and BRP provided me with everything I needed for a forthcoming comprehensive feature on the Evinrude G2 platform. I had the opportunity to speak directly with many of BRP's engineers regarding all aspects of the development, design and goals of these outboards and of course, we were able to test all models on Okauchee Lake. That lake holds a particular historical importance to Evinrude, as it was the location where Ole Evinrude was inspired to develop the his first outboard engine.

The event was massive in every sense of the word - from the actual product itself, to the final global reveal at the Wisconsin Center, which was incredible. The stage was set like a rock concert, with fog machines, focused lighting, and most impressive of all - the new G2 engines and boats being lowered from the ceiling by cables. Nobody was expecting this, and the crowd just went crazy.


This was the most spectacular product launch I have ever attended, but the very best hype would be very shallow if the product being promoted did not deliver. And Evinrude definitely exceeded my expectations on not only the product performance, but all of the new innovations. When I first arrived at the test site, the very first thing I asked was, "which boat here is the fastest?" After all, I knew that's what most of you would want to see. And the Ranger Z521c that was powered by an Evinrude G2 250 H.O. was where I gravitated to instantly. Even though it had four batteries mounted in the stern and two Talon anchor-poles, it had no problem running over 70 MPH very quickly, in some pretty choppy water. Mind you, this is a fully-rigged fishing machine, with a trolling motor and other gear. I really liked the adjustable power steering also. I have a few other good stories to share on this boat, but I'll get into that later.


I was especially excited about Evinrude E-Link virtual dashboard, which allows any smartphone to instantly become the full instrument console of the boat. Just download the app, and your phone or tablet displays all gauge information as well as allowing the user to execute all commands. Why didn't anybody think of this sooner? After seeing it, I couldn't help but think how logical that system is. And E-Link allows multiple devices to connect to its own Wi-Fi network simultaneously. The I-Trim automatic trim system is another innovation that makes sense, most especially for boaters that prefer not to trim the engine themselves. There is just so much to talk about, and I'll get into those details in my feature article very soon.


I am grateful to all of the people at BRP that invited me to present this coverage for all of you. Everybody at BRP was just fantastic, making themselves tirelessly available for all of my needs and questions, for however long I needed. It left a lasting impression on me, and I was thrilled to be a part of this event. Most important to me though, is that the Evinrude G2 and E-Link not only lived up to the awesome hype, but exceeded it. That's very rare in any industry.

I will follow very soon with an in-depth feature on the the Evinrude G2 platform as well as E-Link and related systems.

Greg