MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Optimizing the performance of Boston Whaler boats
roffers
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MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Postby roffers » Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:17 pm

[This article has been moved to the PERFORMANCE forum. In the PERFORMANCE forum we discuss re-power of boats and engine choices--jimh]

[I am] getting ready to re power a 1985 Montauk 17. [Give advice], please.

Yamaha [is] promoting [their 2018 F90 engine weight as only] 353-pounds; compare that to the Evinrude E-TEC 90 at 320-lbs.

Also, do I want a 20 or 25-inch-shaft model?

frontier
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Re: MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Postby frontier » Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:42 pm

[For a MONTAUK 17 use an engine with a] 20-inch-long shaft.

Go with a new Yamaha F70 Yamaha at 253-lbs or a good used Yamaha 90-HP Yamaha two-stroke-power-cycle engine at 256-lbs. The Yamaha 90-HP two-stroke-power-cycle engine is the perfect engine power-to-weight ratio for a classic 17-foot Boston Whaler hull.

macfam
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Re: MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Postby macfam » Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:51 pm

Assuming the dealers are equal, my money would go for the E-TEC.

jimh
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Re: MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Postby jimh » Wed Oct 18, 2017 11:12 pm

Can you actually buy a Yamaha 90-HP two-stroke-power-cycle engine in the USA at a dealer today?

sraab928
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Re: MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Postby sraab928 » Thu Oct 19, 2017 6:49 am

[A Yamaha 90-HP two-stroke-power-cycle engine] can still be bought overseas, but not in the USA.
Scott
1971 Boston Whaler Outrage 21 - under restoration
1974 Boston Whaler Revenge 21

jimh
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Re: MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Postby jimh » Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:52 pm

I suspect that more Boston Whaler MONTAUK 17 boats have been re-powered with the Evinrude E-TEC 90 than any other modern outboard engine, based on the many first-hand reports of those re-power experiences here in the forum and its archives. Everyone that has chosen the E-TEC 90 has been very happy with the performance of the boat.

I don't recall any reports of re-power with a production-year 2018 Yamaha F90, although it is early in the production run, so maybe in another year someone might have chosen this new model engine from Yamaha.

I think Yamaha is excited about the weight of this engine because it weighs less than the previous model, but it is still heavier than the E-TEC.

Whal
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Re: MONTAUK 17 Re-power: Yamaha or E-TEC

Postby Whal » Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:19 am

I am very happy with the Yamaha F70 on my 1999 Alert 17. I really like the light weight and the effect it has on the handling of the boat.

If I had the need for 90-HP, the E-TEC 90 would be on the back of my boat. At 320 lbs the E-TEC 90 is still light enough to not affect the handling and seaworthiness of a Montauk 17.

From my personal experience anything over 320-lbs on the back of a Montauk 17 hull will have a detrimental affect on the handling and seaworthiness of the boat. I know others will say it's not so, but I noticed a huge improvement when I re-powered from a 2005 Mercury 75 two-stroke-power-cycle engine at 305 lbs and a 1994 Mercury 9.9 at 81-lbs kicker--a total of 386-lbs-- to the Yamaha F70 and a Tohatsu 6-HP kicker, a total of 319-lbs. It was as if I had gotten a whole different boat. The ALERT 17 went from handling like a tank to handling like a sports car, and I haven't taken a wave over the transom since.

I only use my boat in Lake Erie so I have had it in some pretty snotty conditions; improvement in seaworthiness with the lighter engines really impressed me. For 70-HP: Yamaha F70. For 90-HP: E-TEC 90.