Welcome to the forum! While I like the Vantage, I prefer the feel of a non-sponson boat.
I was thinking 115 for HPX 18, Evo 18, Marquesa and f70 for HPX 17, Evo 17.
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Welcome @mt-hwy to the new site.
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I had a 115 power Mav 18 like yours. If your fishing doesn’t require you to go skinnier then I wouldn’t make a big deal about it. Mine ran 47-50mph with the 115.
That said instead of deciding between the f-70 and the 115 split the difference with a 90. The Suzuki 90 is 20 lbs lighter than a 115 pro xs command thrust and more than 20 lbs for a yami 115. It spins a big prop well. I’m seeing 38mph in my 22 panga. I do miss the speed of my maverick a little, but I also drive with a heavy foot.
I test ran the first 2nd gen east cape evo v that was kinda pieced together. With a Zika 90 it was still over 40 mph and draft was 8-9” with out many options on the boat. I personally wouldn’t put a 115 on the mav 17 hpxv’s. They were almost perfect with the 90 2 stroke hence the reason you see lots of guys running the 70 4 stroke cause it’s almost the same weight.
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I’m getting up there in years but I’m not 90 yet. 
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I have a Ranger 169 Ghost I bought as a project and has been sitting a long time. It’s striped at the moment as I’m prepping for paint. This is my 1st skiff and fishing the back country will be new to me. Lots of area west of here to figure out.
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I went from pegging out the limiter with the jackplate all the way up in a bay boat, to running at cruising speed with my feet up a few years back. For me it’d be the f70. Well for me it would be the zuke 60
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Check out the table I made here: 30 - 115HP Motor Comparison - #7 by Zika
Suzuki 60 to Yamaha 70 is minor weight but depending on your builder - there is a price jump.
Going from either of those to a 90 is where you see the weight pop up.
I think a lot will depend on the hull you choose as well. Maybe figure out the hull and layout first, then decide on power plant.
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Who cares if it saves you 15 minutes one way. If you can’t get to the fish when you arrive. Imagine making that run to Flamingo and not being able to get to those tailers.
More draft means less time fishing when looking at it from the tide standpoint. You will have to wait longer to get on the flat. And have to get off sooner on the fall. Those are the most productive stages of the tides a lot of days.
I know the keys are a bit different. But I have always wanted just enough to get the job done and no more.
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I can’t believe tunes aren’t more popular on skiffs.
Just about everyone I know with a mud motor has it souped up in some way or another.
70hp to 85hp is a huge jump. Would love to hear before and after numbers on a full carbon skiff
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Welcome to the forum @Piratedave
I would like to see these numbers as well as hear a tuned f70.
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Welcome aboard @Piratedave Glad to have you. Where are you located and what are you running?
There is always the option of leaving 15 minutes earlier to get there in your time frame…….
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I’s be interested to know about warranty and tunes. I know on cars if the dealer finds it there will be issues with warranty work.
At 20lbs difference between the 90 and 115, I’d go with the 115.
As they say, when in Rome…..
I have a 115 on my 18v and would not step down to a 90 to save weight. That 20lb won’t make much difference in draft at all.
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i thought my vengeance was fine with a 115.
then i moved down coast 40 miles and went from a mud bottom to a limestone bottom.
that 460 or whatever pd Suzuki coming off a plane is terrible.
if i could get 3 years out of a highly tuned F 70 and it push boat effectively, i would do it in a minute.
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Living in Palm Beach. currently running a paddle board and a canoe.
Looking to buy something soon. Floyd, Chittum, Drake, fly works. Are all on the menu
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You have good tastes. Have fun shopping. 
Im very skeptical of 20% + gain out of a tune.
Look at Thompson Boatworks also. You may be surprised.
It is so funny to see everyone with different views talk about what they need based on where they fish. Not in a sarcastic way either. We are all so dialed into our fisheries that we have very thought out intricate details that we like. And I am absolutely no exception to that. But no matter which way you go. There will be days you want to go faster or days you want to go shallower.
Good luck with the purchase. Just post it up when you pull the trigger.
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