This thread is hilarious. The OP never mentioned tournaments. Just asked about modding his motor. He never even mentioned tournaments. And everyone since has gotten all riled up about tournament rules and [censored]. Only a handful of actual helpful responses. Y'all crack me up. My 2 cents. Hydrotec is the way to go. If my HPDI blows again I'll probably have HydroTec rebuild it.

Um....maybe not? I guess the 2S doesn't have cams?! Shows what I know about 2strokes.

Can you, or anyone, show me where this is stated clearly an any tournament rules? From what I see, tournaments state:

Maximum horsepower for all outboards used in tournament
competition may not exceed the horsepower limitations as set by the U. S. Coast Guard
in such vessel.

I'm sorry to have to tell you guys but the US Coast Guard rates a 21' bass boat at 300hp. Now the boat manufacturers themselves may say this boat is rated for such and such, for instance, my 21 skeeter fx is rated by skeeter at 250, ONLY because they are partnered with Yamaha and Yamaha doesn't make a 300. The boat could easily handle a 300 if there was one (of course they make the OS 300).

However, Mercury and Evinrude make a 300 and just this past weekend on Toledo Bend I saw 3 different boats with 300's, one was a legend one was a skeeter (obviously bought and replaced the Yamaha most likely, since it was a little older model skeeter, and a ranger).

I then called and spoke to a tournament director I know fairly well and he said that this is somewhat of a gray area but he has never heard of an issue when it comes to 21' boats, simply because of how the rules are worded, as shown above, about the US Coast Guard rating, not boat rating. Most of the time those impacted are the smaller boats that try and put a 250 or above on a boat that came with a 150 etc.

So until someone can back up their claim that doing a flash only to go from 250 to 300 on a 21' boat will break tournament rules, it just means you are repeating what you read on the internet and don't really know.

Go by the plate on your boat. That is what a td is gonna go by

A guy that wants to buy an additional computer for warranty issues isn't worried about rules....
With that said, I can also understand wanting to tweak your motor to get better performance. As he said, it's done to cars all the time. [/quote]
I guess he gave up tournament fishing. I'm not any good at cheating polygraphs so I'll have to keep my motor stock.[/quote]

I can see where it would still be within Tournament rules. If the added (Dyno) HP is still within the Coast Guard Limit. For example, a boat with a 300 limit and a 250 ECU upgrade to 300 is within the rule. [/quote]

Yep

Yamaha does make a 4 stroke 300 and a 350 but they are saltwater models.

The 300 hp model is the same 4.2 L block as the 250 SHO bass version. A buddy of mine runs one on his Skeeter 22 foot center console bay boat.

Check out this bad boy 804 Pounds!!

This is wrong, you don't have to Falsify that you have a 250, if you flash it you can put 300 and still be within the rules. It clearly states "by the U. S. Coast Guard in such vessel", which is 300 on boats I know at least 21'. It also states by "altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or rating plate to conceal such limitations". No one is talking about putting on a false cowling or scratching out numbers on the rating plate, we are just talking about flashing the ECU and nothing else.

Then they wouldn't be going by their own rules because it says NOTHING about manufactured HP.

Does anyone even read or research on their own or just spew out what they hear?

By the way, I NEVER mentioned anything about tournament fishing, just a freaking question about peoples experiences with flashing an ECU.

Ok.lol

Did you see the PM I sent you?

Not EVERYONE fishes tournaments OR even cares about "tournament rules". Some actually just enjoy bass fishing, want their boat to perform, so as for the OP, contact HydroTec or give Steve a call at 903-763-5225.

With that being said: If he did decide to fish a tournament, its all on HIM to pass polygraph. With all the people commenting about rules, the only thing that REALLY could be done if TD determine otherwise is: file a protest according to tournament rules. Are YOU going to be "THAT guy"???
I won't. I could care less what a man runs on HIS boat unless it "actually" breaks the rules & gives him unfair advantage over other anglers. Common sense aint so common anymore.

The max rating on my FX21 is 300HP.

I could put a 300HP on my boat if I so choose and still be with in all tournament rules. Dont know why it would be any different if I flashed my 250hp to a 300hp. It's still with in the rating.

With that said I know of a couple of bay boats that have had this done and after 2 years, so far so good.

I was able to take the boat out Sunday to test the flash from Wayne at hydro tech. As I stated above prior to the flash I ran it under the following:　

full tank of gas
normal tournament load of tackle (which I am considered light compared to most)　
empty live wells　
motor on the 3rd hole, which is how it came from skeeter　
motor on the 7th dot showing which is also how it came from skeeter　
just me, not my tournament partner　
25 pitch T2 yamaha sho prop that came with the boat　

With this set up, and perfectly calm water in the morning around 10am, about 90 degrees here in Houston, I ran a top speed of 72.6 around 5980 to 6000 rpm (that is just because as the boat bounced some it jumped between those numbers). This is when I fully trim the motor all the way up to 100%, but as some have noted, it will get up to around 5700 to 5800 quick and around 69 to 70 mph. I then need to run a decent distance still for it to continue on to the top end numbers I just posted above.

Now with the flash. Literally all I did was flash the ECU and plug it back it. Using the exact same set up at above, prior to the flash, here are my numbers. (The only difference was the water wasn't completely calm, there was a slight chop and depending on the section of the lake, it was at times a little too rough to continue running fully trimmed up due to wake boats and jet skis causes waves)

Around 10am and tempature close to the same, when water chop allowed I was able to run 75.2 at around 6080 to 6100, again only because as the boat bounced some it jumped between those numbers. I think with slick water and not having to worry about the danger of going that fast in choppy water, I might have gotten just a touch more out of it. But honestly the thing that stood out most was how quick I got to 72 - 73 and that came at around 5700 to 5800 rpm. This was mainly because I had to keep the motor tucked under some due to the chop and play boats on the lake. But that is already more than I was getting wide open in perfect conditions prior to the flash as mentioned above.　

With these numbers, I am not sure I need to do much else to the motor height or with a prop, 75mph at 6100 rpm is pretty dang close to the most I will get from this boat/motor set up. I only have the one prop though and will be purchsing a back up, just not sure if I want a 25p but blueprinted and cupped or a 26p. I need to find someone that has a 26 just to try out and see what happens.　

Overall I am very happy with the results, and as some have said, it actually is noticeable in terms of the difference in power. I mean granted it is only 50 more hp but you can feel it and the numbers speak for themselves.

They do have a crank shaft, I had to replace one. Want to see a pic?

https://www.marineengine.com/parts/mercu...connecting-rods