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I have a 17 ft. Boston Whaler newport, hill is a 1987 or 86..not sure..I want to repower because i dont trust the 90 hp johnson 2stroke carburated that is pushing me along..I like the tohatsu 90 2stroke dpli..what do you guys think..Is it even worth it to repower?
A Whaler (86 or 87 model) in reasonably decent condition will easily outlive a new outboard. My Montauk is an '83 and I'm thinking about new power. Right now, the 90 model Johnson 90 just doesn't want to quit.
I have a 1966 17 foot hull that I refinished and repowered with an Evinrude SPL 88 9 years ago. The Whaler doesn't see too much use since we moved up to the Pursuit, but it still performs like a new boat and I just can bring myself to let it go for what it would sell for. My only complaint with the SPL 88 is the fact that it is a gas hog and fuel storage on 17 footer is limited. I vote to repower, absolutely, but consider going with 4 stroke in the interest of fuel economy.
I repowered my 77 Newport in 2000 with a new yami F100. It has a 4 inch manual jack plate and I put the 28 gallon fuel tank under the console.
The boat works great,top speed is 42 mhp. and uses a lot less fuel than my 97 Montauk with a 97 johnson spl. 90 hp.
I just re-powered my 1994 Pursuit 19' with a four stroke. My thinking was, I love the quality and ride of the boat, why try to find a whole new rig when the boat I have now is what I want? I have no regrets.
I picked up a "vintage" 1985 Sea Squirt and repowered it with a new 40 hp Nissan (Tohatsu) 2 stroke. Now it's one of my best flats boats. Age doesn't mean anything to a well built fiberglas hull with "good bones", as long as it hasn't been run over a oyster bar or been in a highway trailer incident. The Tohatsu 90hp two stroker is AWESOME! You'll find it an affordable, dependable, fuel efficient, easy to rig and very powerful compared with other 90's.
Absolutely, if you love the boat, put a new Engine on it.
Just be careful with the weight of the new Engine. Also, if it is a 4 stroke, don't expect it to get you on plane like your two stroke equivalent. I know you said 2 stroke, but I changed my mind at the last minute ... as you know we can sometimes be talked into something by buddies
I repowered a Whaler Dauntless with a 4 stroke in 2004 and it was NO fun. I adored the boat, but the inherent strength of a Whaler can also be a weekness. My boat was heavy and also not ready to accept weight on the back. Even though I was well under the published engine weight requirements, it did not perform well. We tried all the usual stuff (props, doelfins ...) ... just no fun.
I don't know your particular Model, so perhaps you may not have this issue.
yea so you guys like the tohatsu with the DPLI injection? i used to work at Edwards Boatyard in East Falmouth and they were gunna sell me a 03 left over E-tech 90 for cost, literally half the price. but id do a 4 stroke if it was like a 25 footer. those little whalers are no fun 4 stroke. wats a good asking price for a 90 tohatsu..just a ball park?
yea i know I worked at nauset marine for a year or two. im not a fan of the mercs they put on em now.
How much would a repower cost if i got a 2 stroke 90 either injected or carburated?
whaler repower worth it? 
