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The Fisher Pierce Outboard motor was sold from 1967 - 1972. These engines were sold through a dealer network. They were starting to find their own niche in the market place, with Houseboats and Pontoon boats, but things changed in 1972.In case you missed the history on Aero-Jet, Crosley, Fageol, Crofton, and Homelite engines, we will bring you up to date.
The production history begins back in early 40's. Lloyd M Taylor of Taylor Engines of California, had developed a light weight engine. He used a unique process, involving steel stampings which were assembled by copper hydrogen brazing. The finished block weight was 14 pounds.
Chief engineer Paul Klotsch of Crosley Motors Inc., being impressed with the engines potential, negotiated an exclusive license from Taylor Engines. Before Crosley could use the engine in their automobile, world war II broke out, stopping auto production.
Crosley Motors did sell thousands of these engines to the Military. They were used to power water pumps, generators and many other applications. Used on land, on PT boats, assault crafts and more.
In 1950 auto production on the Crosley automobile came to an end. The tooling and rights for their 4 cylinder engine were sold to Aero-Jet General around 1951 or 1952. The primary interest of Aero-Jet General was to supply parts and engines to the military. They did made 3 different versions of a marine engine. A Vee Drive, a VIP (Vertical Inline Power) to be used as an inboard engine, much like a sail drive engine of today and one that was configured like an outboard. It's with this outboard version that our production history really starts.
The Homelite story starts with a man named Lou Fageol. Mr. Fageol was a well known Inboard Boat Racer in the 40's and 50's. He was also the president of Fageol Twin Coach Company, which manufactured buses in Kent, Ohio.
In 1955 during a Gold Cup race in Seattle, he flipped his boat. While laid up in the hospital and recuperating. He came up with the idea of producing a 4 cycle outboard motor. It looks like he built his idea on the VIP engine that Aero-Jet General had come up with. Vertically mounting a Crosley 44 cu in motor on an outboard lower unit. He was one of the first to introduce the first 4 cycle outboard to the industry, not counting the few Evinrude 4 cycle outboards that you still had to mix oil with the gas.
In 1956 Mr. Fageol introduced to the market his Fageol "44" (35 hp) mounted on a stronger Scott Atwater lower unit. A Gold Cup "60" (55 hp) was added to the line in 1957. By 1958 the production line included a 35, 40 and 55 horsepower version. Sales momentum fell off, as the outboard was plagued with a weak Lower Unit.
The Fageol Products Company, a division of Twin Coach Company was sold to Crofton Manufacturing Company of Los Angeles in 1959. Crofton played with production for a couple years and produce a few of the Crofton labeled Fageol outboards.
The father of this new radical designed outboard, Lou Fageol passed away in 1961.
In 1962 Crofton Manufacturing sold Crofton Outboard and rights to Textron's Homelite Division. Even though this 4 stroke outboard had been around since 1956, it was Homelite that made it a household name. Homelite manufactured this 55 horsepower from 1962 through 1966.
The Fisher Pierce Company of Massachusetts purchased Homelite Outboard and manufacturing rights in 1966. Fisher Pierce manufactured the Boston Whaler and with this outboard allowed them to sell a complete package.
The outboard name was changed to "Bearcat" and it enjoy moderate success. In 1971 Fisher Pierce introduced a new 85 hp 4 stroke to their engine line. This engine was an English build Coventry Climax. An aluminum block, 4 inline cylinder engine used in some Lotus automobiles.
We believe that Fisher Pierce sold off Homelite production in 1967 and 1968 as the model numbers didn't change until 1969.
The marine industry fell on hard times in 1972 with the economy and the oil embargo. Fisher Pierce discontinued outboard production in this year.
Aero-Jet General and Lou Fageol were about 50 years ahead of their time. It's ironic that 50 years later (2006) that all outboard production will be 4 cycle Outboard Motors.
Hard core parts for these outboards are getting more difficult to find as time goes on. Many older outboards used common Ignition and Carburetor venders for that period. Discount Marine Parts has Ignition and Carburetor repair kits for most all of these older outboards. If we don't have what your looking for, we have many sources to locate your part. Obviously some parts are just not available. We can sometimes find it used and often we have the part made if there is enough demand. Discount Marine Parts has a large inventory of parts for most brands of American made Outboards, Inboards and Sterndrives. We also have most parts and service manuals available.
Thank you for stopping by and please come back!
| Model | Serial | Description | HP | Cyl | Notes |
| 1967 | |||||
| 460A1E | 2300000 | 55 | 4 | ||
| 460A2E | 2300000 | Long Shaft | 55 | 4 | |
| 1968 | |||||
| 460A1F | 2301147 | 55 | 4 | ||
| 460A2F | 2301147 | Long Shaft | 55 | 4 | |
| 1969 | |||||
| Bearcat 55 | Spl | 55 | 4 | ||
| Bearcat 55 | 2301147 | Standard | 55 | 4 | |
| 1970 | |||||
| Bearcat 55 | Spl | 55 | 4 | ||
| Bearcat 55 | 2301147 | Standard | 55 | 4 | |
| 1971 | |||||
| Bearcat 55 | 55 | 4 | |||
| Bearcat 85 | 85 | 4 | |||
| 1972 | |||||
| Bearcat 55 | 55 | 4 | |||
| Bearcat 85 | 85 | 4 |
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