Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum Loss Exposure Repurchase And Recourse Obligations $ 37.3bc_MaximumLossExposureRepurchaseAndRecourseObligations [1] $ 37.0bc_MaximumLossExposureRepurchaseAndRecourseObligations [1]  
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, single year obligation 30.9bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation 36.3bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation  
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, maximum obligation 35.8bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation 40.8bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation  
Amount of accrual for potential losses related to recourse obligations 1.2bc_AmountOfAccrualForPotentialLossesRelatedToRecourseObligations 1.5bc_AmountOfAccrualForPotentialLossesRelatedToRecourseObligations  
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, single year obligation 56.8bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation 65.0bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation  
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, maximum obligation 56.8bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation 65.0bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation  
Amount of accrual for potential losses related to repurchase exposure 1.2bc_AmountOfAccrualForPotentialLossesRelatedToRepurchaseExposure 1.7bc_AmountOfAccrualForPotentialLossesRelatedToRepurchaseExposure  
Amounts of accounts receivable under sale arrangements, current portion 23.7bc_TransfersContinuingInvolvementCurrent 36.2bc_TransfersContinuingInvolvementCurrent  
Amounts of accounts receivable under sale arrangements, long-term portion 19.6bc_TransfersContinuingInvolvementNonCurrent 18.9bc_TransfersContinuingInvolvementNonCurrent  
Letters of credit outstanding 8.0us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount    
Amount of outstanding surety bonds 12.6bc_AmountOfOutstandingSuretyBonds    
Amount of restricted cash collateral against workers comp obligations 15.6us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 6.5us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue  
Transfers in/(out) of the trust 9.1us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash (6.5)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash (7.0)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
Activity related to product warranty liabilities [Roll Forward]      
Balance at beginning of period 119.6us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrual 126.2us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrual  
Payments made (55.2)us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments (63.1)us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments  
Provisions/additions for contracts issued/sold 64.7us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued 69.6us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued  
Aggregate changes for preexisting warranties (18.5)us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease (13.1)us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease  
Balance at end of period 110.6us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrual 119.6us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrual 126.2us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrual
Amount of deferred revenue related to extended warranty 72.6us-gaap_ExtendedProductWarrantyAccrual 66.8us-gaap_ExtendedProductWarrantyAccrual  
Estimated cost of environmental remediation and clean up projects, minimum 39.9us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMinimum    
Estimated cost of environmental remediation and clean up projects, maximum 70.5us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum    
Amount of reserves for environmental liabilities 39.9us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies 42.2us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies  
Amount of environmental provisions 1.0us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses 0.5us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses 0.9us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLosses
Marine Engine [Member]      
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, single year obligation 2.6bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		8.8bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, maximum obligation 2.6bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		8.8bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, single year obligation 1.5bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		2.2bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, maximum obligation 1.5bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		2.2bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_MarineEngineMember 		 
Boat [Member]      
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, single year obligation 3.7bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		3.1bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, maximum obligation 3.7bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		3.1bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, single year obligation 54.9bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		62.5bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, maximum obligation 54.9bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		62.5bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_BoatMember 		 
Fitness [Member]      
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, single year obligation 24.6bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		24.4bc_PotentialCashPaymentsForRecourseExposureSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties recourse, maximum obligation 29.5bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		28.9bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, single year obligation 0.4bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		0.3bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralSingleYearObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		 
Potential cash payments to third parties to repurchase collateral, maximum obligation 0.4bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		0.3bc_PotentialCashPaymentsToThirdPartiesToRepurchaseCollateralMaximumObligation
/ bc_PotentialCashPaymentsRecourseExposureSingleYearObligationAxis
= bc_FitnessMember 		 
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]      
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum Loss Exposure Repurchase And Recourse Obligations   $ 51.8bc_MaximumLossExposureRepurchaseAndRecourseObligations
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 		 
[1] Repurchase and recourse obligations are off-balance sheet obligations provided by the Company for the Boat and Marine Engine segments, respectively, and are included within the Maximum Potential Obligations disclosed in Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies. Repurchase and recourse obligations are mainly related to a North American repurchase agreement with GECDF and could be reduced by repurchase activity occurring under other similar agreements with GECDF and affiliates. The Company’s risk under these repurchase arrangements is partially mitigated by the value of the products repurchased as part of the transaction. Amounts above exclude any potential recoveries from the value of the repurchased product. The previously reported amount of $51.8 million as of December 31, 2013, reflects repurchase and recourse obligations under the Company's global repurchase agreement that was replaced in 2013 with the North American repurchase agreement described above.