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...i bought my 170 with the 60hp. MERCURY attached. Looking at the specs for the 75,90 and 115 hp. MERCs, it looks like the weight of these outboards are all the same...399#. Is it still frowned upon to go over the recommended 90hp. motor even though the weights are the same?

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I assume this hull is still under the 10 year warranty?

If it is, it used to be that the hull warranty is VOID if the boat is overpowered.
Also check with your insurance company.

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...so it's not just a weight issue, it's also a torque/hp issue. im sure the 90hp will be just fine.

...there's a 152# difference between the 60 and 90hp as it is , i certainly don't want any more added stress to the transom.

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The strength of the ransom has nothing to do with it; it is more than strong enough.

The 170 Montauk was artificially restricted to a 90 HP capacity to accommodate the marketing of the Brunswick Corporation. A 115 HP outboard is just fine on it from a practical point of view.

But Joe does makes good point about your insurance company. They are not all the same.

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I have a 2003 with a Merc 90 2S and I don't know why you'd want a larger engine. Trimmed properly I do 30mph at about 4400 and it is really smooth and fuel effecient.
Harvey

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...when it's just me in the boat or just the wife and i the 60hp. does just fine but, i've had another couple with us once and she struggled mightily to get on plane. I've got a buddy who's 250+ and when he's out front it can feel like i'm operating a barge.

...all things considered as far as comfort onboard , three adults is really the limit for me. the coast guard approved SEVEN is crazy.

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Gentleman,

Something to consider when over powering. Not just an insurance cosideration. Having recently taken the the NASBLA course (this is the national boating certification) I learned something interesting, The coast guard or local police authority can write a sitation for something call "unsafe condition" This is really a subjective thing but if you happen to get stopped the officer was in bad mood this may cause a problem and get you a heafty fine $1000 or more... In addition the authority will "end your voyage" and tow you to the nearest dock until the unsafe condition is fixed. Think about implications of that if go on a trip maybe 20 mile away from your launch point.

What is also interesting and ironic is that there was a guideline for horse power ratings developed by the coast. Based on this formula an older style 17 could accommodate a 115... But that is not what is checked when you get stopped, they will look at the tag on the boat then count passengers and life jackets etc....

Just something to think about...

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Florida has a state statue against overpowering beyond the capacity plate, it is also called reckless endangerment which is another state statue. Other states may have similar laws.

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I would not worry about about putting 115 HP on the boat, but if you want to stay legal, both the Merc 2-stroke 90 and Verado block 90 4-stroke are REAL strong 90's. Actually, both are about 100 HP engines, so I wouldn't worry about it. The 90 Optimax is their weakest 90HP entry!

I just repowered my 18 Outrage with brand new twin 2-stroke 90's are they are NICE, lightweight and powerful engines:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v42...I_0423.flv

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...finnegan man, holy sh*t! that things is screaming. wow. how fast will she go?

...whats the attraction of the 2-smokers though? is it the raw power? light weight? price?

...i'm not really a speed freak anymore but that video had the 'hooligan' in me smiling. nice job.

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Wow, things must have really changed since I moved away from Florida. In the 80's and 90's, if you could hang a motor on the back of your boat, and she still floated, it was legal regardless of the placarded rating (or at least tolerated). The first time I saw a 16' Action Marine with a 200hp Merc on the back, I thought the guy was nuts!!

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Florida Statute Section 327.52(3) --- No person shall operate any vessel described in subsection (1) when said vessel exceeds the maximum weight capacity, maximum persons capacity, or maximum horsepower capacity. If no maximum capacity information is displayed, the capacities shall be calculated as provided in 33 C.F.R. part 183, subparts C and D. This subsection shall not preclude the finding of reckless operation under s. 327.33(1) when a vessel is operated in a grossly overloaded or overpowered condition.

Oddly, subsection 1 specifies that the Statute is specific to vessels less than 20 feet in length.

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JohnnyCW,
only boats less than 20 feet are required to have a capacity plate.

Finnegan,
what is the difference between the twin 115 and the new 90's?

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I see. Florida's Statute then makes the C.F.R. the law whether its the CG plate or the documented hp formula.

In any State that may not have such laws, I would imagine the civil liability if exceeding the CFR guidelines could be significant if there were ever any type of accident.

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I to have to repower my 1989 Montauk. My biggest issue is I want a four cylinder because I still waterski alot behind the boat. Mercs are to heavy for my boat. Saw a 90HP 4 stroke at the launch ramp, thing not only looked huge but owner had to put an anchor in the anchor locker for ballast. (I have an anchor anyway, but for ballast? No) I have 10yr old Evinrude FICHT. I've always run Johnson/Evinrude but the new 90HP E-TEC is only 3 cylinder, don't trust a 3 clyinder pulling a skier out of the hole.

Asking around, I can get insurance on a 115HP ETEC. Apparently the problem arises if you have an accident, the other parties insurer can deny the claim.

I'm looking at the 90HP Honda and am about to post a thread for advice/experience.

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I have A 9O HP E TEC on a 1968 whaler and pulled my buddies 1980 17' whaler off the beach high and dry. I would not worry about the 90 pulling a skier.

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Nice set up Finnegan. Looks fast enough to pull my eyelids back over my head. Can't believe how high the boat sits with twin 90's.