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Author Topic:   Montauk Re-Power Yamaha 90 Four-stroke

limbowhale posted 05-17-2006 06:08 PM ET (US)
I've been trying to decide on Honda vs. Yamaha four-stroke engines for about three weeks now, and, after reading everything I could find in the REFERENCE section of this web site, I had pretty much decided to hang it all up and go with a Yamaha 90 two-stroke because of the weight. The Honda four-stroke is 373-lbs., the Yamaha four-stroke is 369-lbs. The Yamaha two-stroke is 261-lbs.
I decided on the Honda and Yamaha because I can get a good discount over the other brands like Suzuki and Evinrude. The Yamaha was a little more expensive than the Honda, but Yamaha has a "Re-Power Special" going right now that cuts about $500 off their price, so I will go with the Yamaha.
Today I went to the Yamaha dealer to order and found out that the two-stroke Yamaha engines are all on backorder with a mid-July delivery. I live in Washington and our summer is pretty short. It's prime boating weather now through August and I don't want to wait so I am ready to go with the Yamaha four-stroke 90. I am still concerned with the weight. Is there anyone out there with either a Honda or Yamaha 90 four-stroke who can reassure me that it will be ok?
I live on Puget Sound in a very protected harbor. Following seas are not a concern, I am a fair weather boater who wants to run around our island, wakeboard, tube, sightsee, etc.
sosmerc posted 05-18-2006 11:52 AM ET (US)
Have you not considered a 90 or 115hp Merc Optimax?
I have sold several of them on 17ft. Montauks and they perform very well.
Feel free to give me a call. I'm faily close to you, I'm in Belfair, WA.
360-275-4690
Steve's Outboard Service
Perry posted 05-18-2006 12:43 PM ET (US)
If a 373 lb Honda and a 369 lb Yamaha were to heavy in his opinion, why would he consider a heavier Mercury Optimax?
Eddy G posted 05-18-2006 01:02 PM ET (US)
I replaced my two-stroke 90 Mercury for a four-stroke 90 EFI Yamaha last summer. (1994 Montauk) Boat sits maybe an inch lower in the water if that. Smooth power, you will love it.
Eddy G
carl lazar posted 05-18-2006 02:31 PM ET (US)
I re-powered my 1982 Montauk with a Yamaha 75 four-stroke.
It sits about an inch lower than the old engine. The power is great and it burns around 2-1/2-gallons an hour running at 4,000-RPM.

Carl Lazar
The Judge posted 05-18-2006 03:22 PM ET (US)
Don't worry....be happy!
Teak Oil posted 05-18-2006 06:33 PM ET (US)
The Yamaha is EFI, I wouldn't even consider the 90 Honda, it's a heavy slow carburetor pig that is a 10-year-old design.
The four-stroke will have a significant fuel savings on the two-stroke. The Yamaha two-stroke offers lightweight and durability, and that's about it. They are not known for low-end torque or top speed.
sosmerc posted 05-18-2006 10:00 PM ET (US)
The 115 Optimax is 375 lbs. The 17 Montauk handles it fine. Just test ran one yesterday. With a 20-inch Laser II, and the engine mounted one hole down from the highest possible setting, she flies at 49 on GPS...and this is an old hull with a bottom that is not in top shape. The customer has 189 hours on the engine and loves it.
The Chesapeake Explorer posted 05-19-2006 11:12 PM ET (US)
You know I think that max weight on the transom, of Montauks really is most important in trailering the boat, with the weight of the engine hanging out there. Thats a whole lot of strain on the hull VS riding on the water. I have seen a lot of Montauks now with the 375 lb 4 strokes, no one boat looked bad in the water. I repowered in 2005 with a new 2 S Yamaha 90 @ 261 lbs. I sit a bit higher then I did but can still take water over the transom in rough seas same as I did with my old Evinrude 90 at 315 lbs. I also run double batterys both on the rear starboard side. One battery is at least 35 lbs. Now with better alternators in these new 4 S motors I think running 1 battery would be no problem as the old Evinrude was a 6-9 amp alternator my new Yamaha a 10 amp and the new 4 strokes a whole lot more amps then that. So thats 35 lbs off the back for me at least If I had gone with a 4 S.
My advice bottom line dont worry about the 375 lb 4 stroke motor on a Montauk, run 1 battery rear, and make up a good motor brace for trailering and your good to go.
spider posted 05-20-2006 01:06 AM ET (US)
The extra 100 pounds, combined with the added complexity and more failure points exclude consideration of 4-strokes for me. I would wait the few extra weeks for the 2-stroke to become available. Besides, the 2 strokes look so much better proportioned to the boat.
spider
sosmerc posted 05-20-2006 11:30 AM ET (US)
In general, I favor 2 strokes as well, but I think we have a serious need to consider the environment and what we are doing to it. At least the DFI 2 strokes are much, MUCH cleaner than past 2 strokes. And, even with the additional complexity, they are getting to be very reliable and efficient. Buying a conventional 2 stroke is a step backward.
Tom W Clark posted 05-20-2006 12:33 PM ET (US)
The classic Montauk was rated for a maximum transom weight of 410 pounds so I don't really see a problem with any of the motor choices listed above in terms of weight.
There is no need for a "transom saver" or other bracing device on a Montauk. The transom is more than strong enough for anything you can hang on there.

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Author	Topic: Montauk Re-Power Yamaha 90 Four-stroke
limbowhale	posted 05-17-2006 06:08 PM ET (US) I've been trying to decide on Honda vs. Yamaha four-stroke engines for about three weeks now, and, after reading everything I could find in the REFERENCE section of this web site, I had pretty much decided to hang it all up and go with a Yamaha 90 two-stroke because of the weight. The Honda four-stroke is 373-lbs., the Yamaha four-stroke is 369-lbs. The Yamaha two-stroke is 261-lbs. I decided on the Honda and Yamaha because I can get a good discount over the other brands like Suzuki and Evinrude. The Yamaha was a little more expensive than the Honda, but Yamaha has a "Re-Power Special" going right now that cuts about $500 off their price, so I will go with the Yamaha. Today I went to the Yamaha dealer to order and found out that the two-stroke Yamaha engines are all on backorder with a mid-July delivery. I live in Washington and our summer is pretty short. It's prime boating weather now through August and I don't want to wait so I am ready to go with the Yamaha four-stroke 90. I am still concerned with the weight. Is there anyone out there with either a Honda or Yamaha 90 four-stroke who can reassure me that it will be ok? I live on Puget Sound in a very protected harbor. Following seas are not a concern, I am a fair weather boater who wants to run around our island, wakeboard, tube, sightsee, etc.
sosmerc	posted 05-18-2006 11:52 AM ET (US) Have you not considered a 90 or 115hp Merc Optimax? I have sold several of them on 17ft. Montauks and they perform very well. Feel free to give me a call. I'm faily close to you, I'm in Belfair, WA. 360-275-4690 Steve's Outboard Service
Perry	posted 05-18-2006 12:43 PM ET (US) If a 373 lb Honda and a 369 lb Yamaha were to heavy in his opinion, why would he consider a heavier Mercury Optimax?
Eddy G	posted 05-18-2006 01:02 PM ET (US) I replaced my two-stroke 90 Mercury for a four-stroke 90 EFI Yamaha last summer. (1994 Montauk) Boat sits maybe an inch lower in the water if that. Smooth power, you will love it. Eddy G
carl lazar	posted 05-18-2006 02:31 PM ET (US) I re-powered my 1982 Montauk with a Yamaha 75 four-stroke. It sits about an inch lower than the old engine. The power is great and it burns around 2-1/2-gallons an hour running at 4,000-RPM. Carl Lazar
The Judge	posted 05-18-2006 03:22 PM ET (US) Don't worry....be happy!
Teak Oil	posted 05-18-2006 06:33 PM ET (US) The Yamaha is EFI, I wouldn't even consider the 90 Honda, it's a heavy slow carburetor pig that is a 10-year-old design. The four-stroke will have a significant fuel savings on the two-stroke. The Yamaha two-stroke offers lightweight and durability, and that's about it. They are not known for low-end torque or top speed.
sosmerc	posted 05-18-2006 10:00 PM ET (US) The 115 Optimax is 375 lbs. The 17 Montauk handles it fine. Just test ran one yesterday. With a 20-inch Laser II, and the engine mounted one hole down from the highest possible setting, she flies at 49 on GPS...and this is an old hull with a bottom that is not in top shape. The customer has 189 hours on the engine and loves it.
The Chesapeake Explorer	posted 05-19-2006 11:12 PM ET (US) You know I think that max weight on the transom, of Montauks really is most important in trailering the boat, with the weight of the engine hanging out there. Thats a whole lot of strain on the hull VS riding on the water. I have seen a lot of Montauks now with the 375 lb 4 strokes, no one boat looked bad in the water. I repowered in 2005 with a new 2 S Yamaha 90 @ 261 lbs. I sit a bit higher then I did but can still take water over the transom in rough seas same as I did with my old Evinrude 90 at 315 lbs. I also run double batterys both on the rear starboard side. One battery is at least 35 lbs. Now with better alternators in these new 4 S motors I think running 1 battery would be no problem as the old Evinrude was a 6-9 amp alternator my new Yamaha a 10 amp and the new 4 strokes a whole lot more amps then that. So thats 35 lbs off the back for me at least If I had gone with a 4 S. My advice bottom line dont worry about the 375 lb 4 stroke motor on a Montauk, run 1 battery rear, and make up a good motor brace for trailering and your good to go.
spider	posted 05-20-2006 01:06 AM ET (US) The extra 100 pounds, combined with the added complexity and more failure points exclude consideration of 4-strokes for me. I would wait the few extra weeks for the 2-stroke to become available. Besides, the 2 strokes look so much better proportioned to the boat. spider
sosmerc	posted 05-20-2006 11:30 AM ET (US) In general, I favor 2 strokes as well, but I think we have a serious need to consider the environment and what we are doing to it. At least the DFI 2 strokes are much, MUCH cleaner than past 2 strokes. And, even with the additional complexity, they are getting to be very reliable and efficient. Buying a conventional 2 stroke is a step backward.
Tom W Clark	posted 05-20-2006 12:33 PM ET (US) The classic Montauk was rated for a maximum transom weight of 410 pounds so I don't really see a problem with any of the motor choices listed above in terms of weight. There is no need for a "transom saver" or other bracing device on a Montauk. The transom is more than strong enough for anything you can hang on there.