Repower - 90 hp Merc 4 strokes? Optimax?

[Azeal]

Well, I've tried to milk as much life out of my old 90 hp Johnson as I could, but on Saturday it gave up the ghost. Time to either rebuild or repower.

I noticed that Stevens still has their sale on, with 90 hp Mercury 4 strokes for $7000 and 90 hp Merc Optimax's for 6500.

Has anyone had experience with the mid-sized Merc 4 strokes they'd be willing to share, good or bad? I believe this is a Tohatsu power head. I'm leaning towards it over the Optimax, but weight is a factor (going on a 17' Arima, and at 399 pounds the 4 is portly).

Any advice would be appreciated. I was quoted installed prices of $8500 to 9k for 90 hp Yamaha's and Suzuki's.

[foxer]

Both motors weigh the same as their 115hp counterparts. I would go with the biggest you can get. Shop around the new Suzukis and Hondas are supposed to be lighter than previous models. Tohatsu / Nissan supposedly makes a great DI 2 stroke motor in this size too

[KingSalmonBoy]

I have no experience other than funeral preparations for my 75hp Force (still kicking strong at this point). Here is the 09 model info for 90 hp motors:
E-tec 320#
Suzuki 341# (4-stroke)
Honda 359# (4-stroke)
Yamaha 369# (4-stroke)
Merc.Optimax 375# (same as 115 hp optimax as foxer pointed out).
Merc. 399# (4-stroke, same as 115 hp 4-stroke as foxer pointed out).

[Azeal]

Yah, if I had my druthers I'd go with the Suzuki, but I'm being quoted installed prices of right at 9k for them. The Mercury options are running $1500 less.

If anyone knows of any good deals of 90 or 115 hp motors right now, I'm in the market.

[foxer]

Shop around. Boat dealers should be hungry for business..