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I have just purchased and am doing repairs on a 20 yr old 17 footer. It had an old 90 hp Johnson and am considering replacing with a 90 HP or 115 hp, probably evinrude. Any suggestions/preferences. I have been told I will get a better get-up-and-go with the 115. Can the transom handle it? I am already repairing some hairline cracks around the transom from the last unit. Also I am getting a steady, slow drip from a screw hole in the transom. I have open a small hole in the glass to check the foam to see if it is saturated and it does not seem to be. How can I be sure?

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I can't suggest an engine size, but I can advise that you investigate the ETEC...........It is a great motor with a super warranty...Quiet, sips gas and barely uses any oil........I believe it is a good bit lighter in weight than the 4 strokes also

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A 90hp two stroke engine is the "perfect" engine for that boat. Some people run 70hp engines as well. I would not put a 115hp on it.

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115hp is overpowered but many have done it with success, a transom in good shape should be no problem, and will probably hit 50mph.

My current choices for a new motor would be:

1. Etec 90 is lightest 3 star rated at 320lbs. Looks to have good acceleration but less top end than the 4 strokes. No oil changes only oil refill. 300hrs between service.

2. Suzuki DF90 is lightest 4 stroke at 340lbs. and according to all known literature gets more than 2mpg better at cruise than the Etec. ~6mpg for the Etec ~8mpg for the Suzuki. Has timing chain which means service would only be for oil changes unless you can do that yourself.

3. Honda 90, second lightest 4 stroke at 360lbs. Has BLAST and Vtec for good performance, mpg somewhere in between Etec and Suzuki at cruise. More expensive than first two choices. Has timing belt which means more service required.

4. Suzuki DF100. Heavy at 419lbs, this is the old DF90 retuned. Currently only 100hp production motor, which would be the max you can do on a Classic Montauk and not be considered overpowered.

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You gotta be careful with that whole ETEC no service thing. No service and saltwater use means "REPLACEMENT". I guarantee if try and go 300 hours on any motor used in saltwater, you will experience problems. That ETEC marketing campaign was masterful.

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I would and am installing a 2009 90 hsp YAMAHA 2 stroke the best motor by far.Take it from me I worked for evinrude a long time you will be very dissatisfied w/ the E-Tec probably the worst motors I have ever worked on plastic everything and they blow up if not broken in properly at about 100 hours. 3years no maintenance ha ha I'd like to see how that motor changes its own gear oil.The marketing director at BRP is a genius.

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DWinter,
I assume from what you are saying then, that all Outboard Engine manufacturers have a different maintenance schedule and list of things they do to Salt Water engines as compared to Fresh Water engines when they do the scheduled service maintenance?
I have never seen that listed in any Outboard manuals. From what I have seen they have never had a maintenance section for Fresh Water engines and another maintenance section for Salt Water engines?
Please tell us where we can read this information.
Or, what special maintenance service do repair shops perform on Saltwater engines that they do not perform on Fresh Water engines.

I think we all realize that when running in Salt Water, the engine should be flushed with fresh water after every use. Many people spray the engine with anti-corrosion lubricant to help keep down corrosion when using the boat in Salt Water.
I am unaware of anything else anyone could perform on a scheduled maintenance to an engine just because they use it in Salt Water as opposed to other engines that are used in Fresh Water.
Obviously, fresh water engines do not have to be flushed with fresh water after every use like salt water engines should be.

robt,
Many people and states are concerned about Water and Air Quality. That is why most engine manufacturers have gone to clean engines that are CARB3 rated. Less oil in the water and less pollution in the air.
The Yamaha 2 stroke is still using the old dirty technology so we assume your state allows the use of these dirty engines and you are not concerned about your state changing any of their laws regarding using these dirty engines in any of your states waterways.

I think the old technology Yamaha was a great engine but these engines can no longer be sold in California. So, we don't have a choice here as we can't buy a new Yamaha with old dirty technology as it is against the state laws.
Quite a few of our lakes and waterways do not allow any dirty technology engine on their waterways. It's only a matter of time when other states and waterways change their laws.

I would sure hate to see anyone spend $8,000 to $10,000 or more on a new Yamaha 2 stroke only to find out next year that your favorite body of water no longer allows dirty technology engines to be used. Then you would have a new engine but couldn't use it in your favorite lake or waterway. That wouldn't be good.

I would recommend anyone buying a new engine, that they buy the cleanest technology available today and that would be any of the CARB3 rated engines.
CARB3 rated engines are available in both 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines.

Here's a list of the most popular current engine choices. Note that Yamaha is the only one listed that are still making engines with the old dirty technology. The old 2 stroke technology is almost gone. There is a reason for that.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...ticle_id=5

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I have a Montauk with 90hp Etec and couldn't be more pleased. While not "whisper quiet" (my buddy's 90hp yamaha is noticeably quieter) the noise level is still FAR quieter than older 2 strokes.

I run all year long 1-2 times a week and have only brought my boat to the shop twice a year for checkups and have never had any problems. It always starts on the first crank.

Speed with me and a fishing buddy is around 42-43 with the pitot tube and 47knots according to my Raymarine A50d. 47 seems a bit unrealistic to me. In any case it is plenty fast for all but the most perfect conditions.

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thunderpaste,

Your buddy has a 90hp Yamaha 2 stroke and it is noticeably quieter than the E-Tec?

Or does your buddy have a 4 stroke Yamaha?

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Chrisavey- I have a 90hp salwater edition ETEC, and couldn't be more pleased with it. I have had it since May of 09, run 1-2 times a week, and it always starts on the first crank. No smoke, no noise, sips oil and gas, and pushes the Menemsha as fast as I want to go. It's so quiet that I have had people ask me if it was running when I was idling next to them. I can carry on a conversation with the person next to me while at full throttle without yelling! I took the advice of another Whaler owner who has had an ETEC for several years now, and loves his ETEC too! The ETEC I bought was a little more money up front, but the yearly maintenance costs for other brands evened out the investment. Well worth the money in my opinion!-k

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i dont care how many hours an engine can go without service,if you live up north you better change or at least check your gear oil before winter or you will risk spliting your gearcase from water instead of gear oil in your lower unit.I bought a new 25 hp and failed to change it after 30 hours.later that summer after over a hundred hours i took the screw out and nothing but water came out.the dealer mech. said the seal was faulty at the factory and yes it would run with water instead of oil.after it was fixed i ran it for six hard seasons with no trouble with lower unit.if i did not catch it and left it out all winter in zero degree weather i could have split or cracked the lower unit.that is why you change it in the fall,in case you run over fishing line and ruin the seal you can catch it before winter.enough said