I have a 1986 Lund Tyee 5.3 with a 1986 Mercury 115 hp tower of power on it. The motor runs fine, but I am considering updating to a newer engine. The boat is an aluminum hull and will take up to 125 hp. I have a 9.9 hp kicker on the back and a minn kota maxxum on the front. I only use the main engine to get on and off the lake. The longest drive will be up to to 5 miles. I fish at two main altitudes, 5500 feet and 9000 feet. Engines run very different at these higher altitudes. I have a budget of $2500 or close to it and want to know what engine in the 90 to 115 hp range is a good investment. I know the 50 hp models and under much better than these larger engines. I like 2 stroke engines a little better than 4 stroke, but I am open to suggestions. I posted here because I have always owned Mercury, but have ran a few smaller Yamaha's and OMC's as well. My brother has a 1998 Mercury 150 hp Optimax that I love, but it is obvously too big for my boat. I am willing to be patient and wait for the right deal. Are there any engines to avoid, are any more reliable than others in this price range. In my area there are a lot of Mercury, Yamaha, and Evinrude engines. Not a lot of Honda or Suzuki engines here. I may even look for another boat with the engine I want and swap the motors out and resell the purchased boat. Your input is appreciated.