It's easy to tell when he's finished working on one of his antique boat motors. You can hear it all over Shiawassee County.
Suter is a retired Ford engineer whose wife thought he needed a hobby. "So she went out to an auction and bought two outboard motors, came back and said here's the start of your hobby," Suter said.
Suter built a 3,000-square-foot pole barn and filled it with 329 antique and collectible boat motors.
The oldest motor in the collection is a 1911 Waterman. It has two horsepower, one cylinder and was made in Detroit. Or how about a 1930 Elto.
"I know of three that exist and the other two are incomplete," Suter said.
At first, Suter stuck with conventional boat motors, but soon he felt the need for speed. "Eventually I fell in love with racing engines. It's the allure of the speed and the rarity of these motors."
In fact, 129 racing motors now hang on the racks.
"Now I have to put the crankshaft is. That goes in the bottom end here like so. But I have to put the bearings in first," Suter said as he pointed to the engine.
Finding parts can be a challenge, so he makes much of what his needs. "That's why I have a machine shop, so I can remanufacture some of these missing parts."
Suter spends a lot of time working on his boat motors. He has two types; those that run now and those that will. "Eventually I would like to have all of them in running order."
Don't think these are just showpieces. Suter's not afraid to get them wet.
"I take boats and motors out to the lake or river somewhere and run them."
So wives, be careful what hobby you find for your husband to work on. It may grow bigger than you ever expected.
Click here to contact Mark Suter
