Minimum to maximum outboard for 17ft wailer

[josh burga]

I have a 1969 Boston wailer and live on KAUAI hi. It has a gas hog 88 evinrude and I'm ready to repower. There's a Mercury dealer on island so that what I'm planning on going with. I'm looking for the most economical hp engine. All be doing a lot of trolling and coastal cruzzing. I'm thinking about the 60 4 stroke big foot or the 75 or 90. What do recommend and would the 60 mercury big foot do the job

 

[JB]

Re: Minimum to maximum outboard for 17ft wailer

Ahoy, Josh.

Welcome to iboats. :welcome:

Your Whaler is rated for 100HP, MAX. I have owned three Whaler 17s and only once did I use 100HP. We have a rule of thumb that says use a minimum of 70% of the rated HP for satisfactory performance. I got excellent performance with a Johnson 70HP and a Suzuki DF70 4 stroke. Both performed as well as the third one with a Merc 90.

However, when your boat was built BW routinely equipped them with Homelite/Bearcat 55HP 4 strokes. I rode in one of those and thought it was adequately powered, but had no extra for emergency power..

I recommend a good 70HP outboard. If I was equipping one today I would go for the Suzuki DF70. It is heavier than the Johnson/Evinrude 70s, but much quieter and more economical. The JohnnyRude 70 would be my second choice. I would not use any outboard with less than 70HP.

You might get a few ideas from my Red Sky at Night stories about my '66 BW Sakonnet and '81 Montauk.

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