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Currently looking for a Montauk 170 and am looking at a 2006 with a 90 HP Merc 4 stroke with under 200 hours. Very nice boat, clean, well maintained, however I have heard that the "2003-2006" Merc engines were problematic and since they are expensive to replace ($11,000) I am looking for information on how problematic those engines might be. Did they have SERIOUS issues ... if so then I should simply look for another boat. Thoughts?

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I have not heard of problems with that engine. Unless I had some pretty good reason from a trusted source I would not pass on the engine. 200 hours is a piddling amount of use. Unless the seller has complete maintenance records I would have an annual maintenance done in a Mercury Marine shop to include replacement of the water pump impeller. You can perform a compression test on the engine to get some idea of the internal condition. At the very least I would insist on a water trial of the boat and engine.

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Butch ... thanks for the comments. I just found ANOTHER boat ... and have it under contract pending sea trial next Tuesday:

-2007 Montauk 170
-2007 Mercury EFI (not the Yamaha power head) with 101 hours on BOAT AND MOTOR.
-Boat has been stored in a garage and only taken out when used ... for an average of 6 hours a year for the
past 15 years.

Gel coat is like new, cushions are spotless, motor looks great. Cannot wait.

As soon as I get her ... I will do an epoxy barrier bottom coat and bottom paint as I plan on keeping her in a wet slip covered at a marina on the St Johns River (fresh water).

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The reported issues with the Mercaha 90 had to do with the carburetors installed by Mercury on the Yamaha powerhead.

Some of the carburetor passages were small and prone to clogging when the boat was infrequently used. Some owners had issues with clogging/bogging down.

Owners reported by adding the Mercury product QuikKleen eliminated the issues completely.

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Montauk 17 bought pending sea trials.