The engine of the 1981 Johnson 88 SPL, or 88 Special model outboard motor is a four-cylinder, two-stroke engine. The 100C, or 100 Commercial outboard motor made in 1993 also features a four-cylinder, two-stroke engine. In 1999 Johnson produced the Johnson 9.9 High Thrust, which offers a two-cylinder, four-stroke engine. The 2004 J175PL is fitted with a six-cylinder, two-stroke engine.
The Johnson 9.9 High Thrust made in 1999 offers a relatively low 9.9-horsepower output. Johnson's 1981 88 SPL produces an 88-horsepower output. Their 100 Commercial offers an output of 100 horsepower. The 2004 Johnson J175PL outboard motor produces a relatively high 175-horsepower output.
The 88 SPL as well as the 1999 Johnson 9.9 High Thrust are designed with 13 splines. Some of the outboards that feature one of the higher spline counts of all Johnson outboard motors are the 100 Commercial and the Johnson J175PL, both with a spline count of 15.