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I recently purchased my very first Boston Whaler and thats where the good news ends.
Long story short after getting her home and taking the engine apart it has extensive piston damage and will need to be rebuilt.
I am kicking around the idea of just re-powering all together.

I want to go with a light 90 HP so a 2-stroke is preferable.

Has any one re-powered, be it a 90 HP Merc or Evinrude, in the last two years who can give me a good estimate installed price with controls?

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There's so much variability in price. Narrow down your list of wants/requirements for what you're looking for (year range, hours, T/T yes or no, w/ all cables or not, etc.

I recently bought a '96 Yamaha 2-stroke 40hp in great shape but I needed to have it mounted and then a new steering kit (including helm) installed. It's costing me $1500 plus the $900 I paid for the Yamaha. BUT, compared to a new 40hp, I'd be paying $5k+ for the same. Now's not the time of the year to buy new motors. Usually in the Fall/Winter is best for dealer/manufacturer discounts.

Good luck!

Bruce

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call some local shops and get quotes. It will be cheaper to go with the manufacturer you had assuming you can reuse controls and such. If you need to get all new binnacle, wire harness and gauges that really adds to the cost. Engine wise, Merc is slightly cheaper than Evinrude for a 90HP but your cost difference is around 1k.

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Not so difficult a situation. When you buy a boat you can expect that the motor might not work well. Simply find a used engine. Go with a 2-stroke and find a not-to-expensive one that was used in fresh water.

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I just got some quotes back from local shops.
All are around 10K installed with controls.. ouch.

On the other side of it there is a local shop, Outboard Exchange, that sells completely rebuilt 1989-1996 Johnson 90's with a one year warranty for +/- 5K.

This seems like the way to go.

I don't like the idea of buying something I really count on on Craigslist because you just never know.

In the mean time I think I will run my motor until it explodes.

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I paid a little over $10k for my 2010 Etec 115 including the controls and analog gauges. This was late summer of 2009 and the motor was new out of the crate.

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I see a local EV dealer ad on the Hudson Valley CL stating "New Etec 90 installed for around $8500. I have no idea what this includes or even if the dealer is of good reputation.

Used motors from up my way should be a good units because many are only used very sparingly for a few short months in fresh water. Most of the issues I see are from long periods of storage rather than from mis-use or abuse.

What I do see that is rather interesting is many complete boat packages for sale, boat, motor, trailer and accessories for less than the price of the motors on them alone. Seems to be a lot of folks way over their heads in boats these days just looking to dump the entire works.

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If you can get it all for 5K installed that would be sweet.

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I'm in the same boat needing to repower. A little while back when I asked about rebuilt outboards some of the more experienced members responded stating they did NOT recommend rebuilt outboards as "it has been shown they usually only last about 20-40 hours" if I remember correctly. I guess a lot will depend on who the rebuilder is and the reputation of that shop, and exactly how far into the rebuild they went.

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It depends on who does it. Mine was rebuilt, and it runs as good as new. Has for a whole season now.

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Shopping for a new engine, installed with gauges, key switch and throttle binnacle is like shopping for a car.

One should get a specific quote that lists the price of each item (part #) and shop around.

A dealer giving a paragraph with no specifics is worthless.

How much for the:
Engine
Harnesses
Key switch
Throttle
Gauge(s)
Labor to mount engine
Labor to install harness, gauges and throttle.

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I was in the same situation as you. My advice, bite the bullet and buy a new one. It's painful, but it's probably the most cost effective route from a longevity standpoint.

I'm sorry to say that about 4 years ago I bought a used 175 Johnson off of eBay, that lasted a season, and during that season I dropped another couple of grand into it.

I bought a 2011 Merc in April of this year. Merc has/had a deal going on where you got 2 additional years on your warranty making it 5 years total.

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Mercury no longer makes a 2 stroke in the 90 HP category.

Check the weights here for Current Engine Choices.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...ticle_id=5

The Mercury 90 HP is 79 pounds heavier than the E-Tec 90 HP.

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I got a 2010 Mercury 150 mounted with prop $9999.00 With smart gauges add $750.A got new oil and new shifter the whole thing came to $11,115.00 I hope this helps. P.S it is a 2 stroke. I bought an engine before the new one, (craigslist) first time out it died, $1500.00 out the window.

I wouldn't buy a used engine with stolen money!

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I recently bought a new 60 ETEC in February of this year. It cost me 7,200 installed with a SS prop, gauges, wire harness, and new steering cable, out the door. My advice is see if you could wait till the fall when ETEC comes out with a new promo, I got mine with a 5 year warranty, and 1000 free rigging. For me nothing beats a NEW ETEC!

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Check with some shops and see if they have any that are a couple of years old but still in the crate. I saved about $2,500 that way.

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We just finished the Only In America 1200+ mile trip with a "new in the crate left over" on our 1963 custom 16' 7". Yamaha 90TLR mfg in 2008 without the first problem. PTT, motor, controls, SS prop, dry weight 261# for $8K. I saved around $400 by mounting and rigging myself, if I do it agin I will pay the $400.

All along the way from Norfolk, VA to Boston Harbor, I saw more Yamahas than any other brand, which is buyers choice.

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Be aware those that deal in used engines are overstocked with units that were salvaged from Katrina and other storm related damaged vessels. Often the dealers may not even be aware of the origin of the used motors they are trying to sell. There is a lot of junk out there that appears to be in good condition that may very likely leave you with expensive problems not too far down the road.

Katrina alone was responsible for the loss of over 300,000 vessels which resulted in those businesses that deal salvaged marine parts being inundated with a variety of stock. A lot of good deals to be found but for the less informed, a lot of potential problems as well.