Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: HELP/ADVICE -1986 17 Super Sport repower E-TEC 90 or 90 H.O.?

Posted by consciencebay on 04/23/16 - 2:10 PM
#1

Will the experts and gods of our beloved whaler please help me?!

I have a beautifully restored 1986 17 Super Sport with a 2004 90 HP Johnson that has sadly run its course (its become a bit unreliable and tends to go in and out of the shop). i am deciding between a 2016 E-TEC 90HP and the E-TEC 90 H.O.

my old 2004 90 weighs 330 lbs and is a v4 with 105 inch displacement

i ordered the new 90 E-TEC inline 3 from my dealer and noticed that it is 79in displacement. weight is 325 lbs.

The dealer says if i want to switch to the 90 H.O. which is V4 and has 105 in displacement and weight 380 - and pay the slight diff - i have about 4 days to decide - weight here is 380 lbs

from what i hear the 90 H.O. is a tuned down 115......concern i guess is the weight (an additional 50 lbs from my previous engine) and not wanting to be too overpowered - although the max HP is 100 on this boat.

I loved the 2004 90...had a great hole shot and with me alone, it was great for a good "hell ride" across the bay while also pushing nicely for my family of 4 and 2 dogs to head out to the beaches. Also was good to pull me up skiing and the kids tubing (I weigh about 200).....

please help me make this decision. For me its not really about the extra $1,000, its what is a better fit and will keep my whaler as close to what it used to be with the 2004 90 Johnson.

please advise

rob

Edited by Phil T on 04/23/16 - 2:24 PM