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I have a 1999 Alert 17 and have had 2 different kickers on it. One was a 9.9 Mercury 2 stroke, 81 lbs., and the present kicker is a Tohatsu 6 hp. 4 stroke that weighs 59 lbs. The 6 hp. Does everything that the 9.9 would do and it is a lighter motor, it pushes the hull 6.1 mph as opposed to 6.4 mph with a 9.9 hp. I have found out from experience that too much transom weight on a 17 ft. Whaler hull will make your boat handle like a tank not to mention taking an occasional wave over the transom. I went from a total of 386 lbs. of motor weight to 319 lbs. with a repower and the boat handles like a sports car and I have never taken a wave over the transom since , so try not to get too much weight on the back of your boat. Enjoy your boat these are great boats.