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Author Topic:   1961 17-footer

donsampson posted 11-09-2012 11:31 AM ET (US)
I am thinking [to repower a 1961 Boston Whaler 17-foot boat] a 60-HP would perform just fine. Most of my friends think I would be unhappy with anything less than a 90-HP.
The boat is such an old American classic, it seems wrong to put a Japanese outboard on it. But my friends also are telling me the E-TEC is finnicky and complicated, and I need a Yamaha or Suzuki four-cycle outboard enine. The boat weighs about 700-lbs. Any thoughts on a good engine choice to re-power?
Tom W Clark posted 11-09-2012 11:50 AM ET (US)
My first piece of advice: Find friends who know more about outboard motors.
You decide how much power you need. It will depend on how and where you use the boat. 60-HP is plenty if you want to cruise and get good fuel economy but do not load the boat heavily and intend to water ski or tow other things or need to exceed 40-MPH.
I would not limit yourself to just American made motors; your choices will be very limited. I'd just buy the best motor for the money that you can, new or used.
I would try to keep the weight of the motor down. That boat was never designed for a 350-pound outboard on its transom, and most, if not all, 90-HP four strokes will exceed that limit.
jimh posted 11-09-2012 12:46 PM ET (US)
Under 75-HP it becomes very hard to find an outboard engine that is actually made in the USA. I think the E-TEC might be about the only outboard engine to have that pedigree.
I concur with Tom regarding transom weight being a consideration. You should also consider the age of the hull. If made in 1961 that is a 51-year-old hull. Keeping the horsepower and weight down is a consideration when the hull is that old. Although old Boston Whaler boats are still tough, there is no guarantee that the hull is still as strong as when new. And when new, as Tom observes, it was not intended to have a heavy engine.
Some time ago we had a good discussion about maximum engine weights, and you ought to read that thread from the archives. Here is a link
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/002449.html
L H G posted 11-09-2012 05:37 PM ET (US)
I agree a Japanese engine should not go on that Classic.
If you want a new 60HP engine, take a look at the Mercury 4-stroke 60HP EFI. Boston Whaler has furnished thousands of these engines on the smaller Whalers over the years.
I would not put any engine on that boat over 300#. The boat should do about 35 MPH with one of these.
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/40-60/
Any good used or remanufactured American 2-stroke, Mercury or OMC, would also be a good option.
contender posted 11-09-2012 05:39 PM ET (US)
Get a 90, and you will be happy
crbenny posted 11-09-2012 06:00 PM ET (US)
Don,
I think the 3 cylinder OMC in 70hp is a no brainer for your needs. It's a proven design having been built for over 30 years, it's lightweight and efficient. A match made in heaven if speed or waterskiing aren't your bag.
For a classic look and more power, the Merc inlines from the mid eighties in 4&6 cylinder are a good choice. These were transitional years and SOSMERC and LHG among others will tell you that these motors have many of the attributes of the modern outboard yet they can be dressed out to look exactly like the original engines of the sixties. There are two outfits that can build you a classic Merc to fit your needs for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Mercrestor and Classic Mercury Outboards. I've emailed back and forth with both of them and I'm currently looking for a core to ship out for complete refit but dressed out as a late sixties model for my '68 Nauset.
Chris


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Author	Topic: 1961 17-footer
donsampson	posted 11-09-2012 11:31 AM ET (US) I am thinking [to repower a 1961 Boston Whaler 17-foot boat] a 60-HP would perform just fine. Most of my friends think I would be unhappy with anything less than a 90-HP. The boat is such an old American classic, it seems wrong to put a Japanese outboard on it. But my friends also are telling me the E-TEC is finnicky and complicated, and I need a Yamaha or Suzuki four-cycle outboard enine. The boat weighs about 700-lbs. Any thoughts on a good engine choice to re-power?
Tom W Clark	posted 11-09-2012 11:50 AM ET (US) My first piece of advice: Find friends who know more about outboard motors. You decide how much power you need. It will depend on how and where you use the boat. 60-HP is plenty if you want to cruise and get good fuel economy but do not load the boat heavily and intend to water ski or tow other things or need to exceed 40-MPH. I would not limit yourself to just American made motors; your choices will be very limited. I'd just buy the best motor for the money that you can, new or used. I would try to keep the weight of the motor down. That boat was never designed for a 350-pound outboard on its transom, and most, if not all, 90-HP four strokes will exceed that limit.
jimh	posted 11-09-2012 12:46 PM ET (US) Under 75-HP it becomes very hard to find an outboard engine that is actually made in the USA. I think the E-TEC might be about the only outboard engine to have that pedigree. I concur with Tom regarding transom weight being a consideration. You should also consider the age of the hull. If made in 1961 that is a 51-year-old hull. Keeping the horsepower and weight down is a consideration when the hull is that old. Although old Boston Whaler boats are still tough, there is no guarantee that the hull is still as strong as when new. And when new, as Tom observes, it was not intended to have a heavy engine. Some time ago we had a good discussion about maximum engine weights, and you ought to read that thread from the archives. Here is a link http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/002449.html
L H G	posted 11-09-2012 05:37 PM ET (US) I agree a Japanese engine should not go on that Classic. If you want a new 60HP engine, take a look at the Mercury 4-stroke 60HP EFI. Boston Whaler has furnished thousands of these engines on the smaller Whalers over the years. I would not put any engine on that boat over 300#. The boat should do about 35 MPH with one of these. http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/fourstrokes/40-60/ Any good used or remanufactured American 2-stroke, Mercury or OMC, would also be a good option.
contender	posted 11-09-2012 05:39 PM ET (US) Get a 90, and you will be happy
crbenny	posted 11-09-2012 06:00 PM ET (US) Don, I think the 3 cylinder OMC in 70hp is a no brainer for your needs. It's a proven design having been built for over 30 years, it's lightweight and efficient. A match made in heaven if speed or waterskiing aren't your bag. For a classic look and more power, the Merc inlines from the mid eighties in 4&6 cylinder are a good choice. These were transitional years and SOSMERC and LHG among others will tell you that these motors have many of the attributes of the modern outboard yet they can be dressed out to look exactly like the original engines of the sixties. There are two outfits that can build you a classic Merc to fit your needs for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Mercrestor and Classic Mercury Outboards. I've emailed back and forth with both of them and I'm currently looking for a core to ship out for complete refit but dressed out as a late sixties model for my '68 Nauset. Chris