Once upon a time, a 200 hp outboard was huge. Today, there are boats with a half-dozen 600 hp V-12s strapped onto the transom. But how did we even get here? And where are we going? Ever since Gustave ...

An outboard motor is a critical component that makes your boat go, so you might be wondering how long one will last. Here's what you need to know.

The first outboard was actually electric (left). The 12-cylinder block for Mercury’s 600-hp Verado shows how far outboard technology has come. World History Archive/Alamy stock photo Once upon a time, ...