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Hi Kena,
With the right prop a 60hp will likely be fine. You are trading off time to plane against top end and some fuel economy. I have no experience with the Merc 60, but did run a Yamaha F70 on a 1988 Montauk 17 which I used to own. It popped up on plane nicely even with 4 people, but obviously not as quickly as when solo. Top speed was about 36mph, and I was slightly underpropped when lightly loaded.

The F70 was(is?) built on the same block as the F60, but had a higher top RPM limit. I suspect this is where the extra 10 hp comes from. If so, I would think the low end torque curves between the two motors would be close and their time to plane would be close as well. If the Merc 60 is similar I think you'd have enough pop with the right prop, but just give up a few mph of top end. Perhaps you might save some rigging expense by staying with Mercury as well.

Good luck with your decision.
Dennis