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For many years now I've read about people putting heavy 4 stroke 90 hp motors on a Montauk 17 and saying their boat handled just great with that heavy motor on the back and I think they truly believe that it does and that's OK. But I can tell you from first hand experience that they are missing out on how this amazing hull does handle and how seaworthy the Montauk really is. I am in total agreement with 44thomas44 in post #12 that a Montauk with a heavy motor plows along at low speeds, rides like a tank, and will take waves over the transom. But with 320 lbs of motor or less it will handle like a sports car. I used to have a Mercury 75 2 stroke and a Mercury 9.9 2 stroke for a total of 386 lbs and I experienced all the above negative tendencies, I re powered with a Yamaha F70 and a Tohatsu 6 hp Sail Pro kicker for a total of 319 lbs and just like 44thomas44 says the boat turned into a Porsche ! I know some will say I don't know what I'm talking about but that is my experience. If I wanted/needed a 90 hp motor on my Montauk 17 it would be an Etec ( ouch that hurt me being a Yamaha man ) but I think the weight issue makes such a huge difference in the handling and seaworthiness even I would get an Etec 90 just to keep the weight down. No chance of me changing from my F70 as I think it's the perfect motor for a Montauk 17