beerbelly, I just bought a new boat with new motors (duh). but for a 2 stroke I swear by mercury.
Old boat had a 92 motor on it 8hp and not one problem except the kill switch in the throttle handle. and that really a very small problem.
Have fun shopping cause thats almost as fun as fish'n
ps the weight on merc's 8hp is 74lbs ain't much under your maximum weight, but under