Flashing An Outboard

[Cliffprocraft190]

Exactly what does flashing an outboard involve? Just having something re-program the ECU? Or is there more to it than that?

How much does it cost?

If you bought a boat rated for 225 HP max, which would be cheaper: buying a 225 SHO or buying a 200 SHO and having it flashed (to 231HP is what I have been seeing on the forum)?

I think those two motors are built on the same block, so I think they would weigh the same. Correct? So no gain in performance from a weight loss because there wouldn't be any.

[Highcentered]

For a SHO it's just flashing the ecu and probably going up in prop size if needed. I think the V6 SHO will be around 330hp with the flash. I think it's around $750 plus shipping. Just remember to be careful and keep it on a need to know basis if you fish tournaments.

[Cliffprocraft190]

If you are talking about a new outboard, would you do the break-in first and then flash it or flash it and then do the break-in or does it matter?

[mactlman]

If you are talking about a new outboard, would you do the break-in first and then flash it or flash it and then do the break-in or does it matter?

Definitely break it in first and give it a few more hours after that would be my advice

[SteezMacQueen]

If you are talking about a new outboard, would you do the break-in first and then flash it or flash it and then do the break-in or does it matter?

I bought the flash kit at the same time I was getting the new VF150 SHO installed. I did the break in procedure, then flashed it. The dealership knew I bought the flash kit. I was kinda their suggestion. I bought and paid for a SHO 200….dropped off the boat for installation and they called me before I made it back home. They said as a Yamaha certified dealer, they couldn’t put the 200 on my hull that was rated for 175. They couldn’t find a 175 anywhere in the country at the time either. So we decided on the 150 and a flash kit. They helped me with the flash kit the first time. They also GAVE ME the extended “YES” warranty.

they said as long as I stayed with the stock rev limit of 6150 rpm, the warranty would not be voided. So….with the stock rev limit, my VF150 SHO is actually only making around 200-ish hp. The extra 30 or so hp comes from running the rev limiter to 6500rpm. Same with the V6 SHO’s. The 250 will make around 300 hp @ 6150 rpm. 330 hp @ 6500 rpm.

the REAL question is why does a VF175 SHO and a F200’cost more than the VF150 SHO when they truly are identical part for part and cost exactly the same to manufacture?
also….why does a VF200 SHO cost less than a VF250 SHO? Again….they are the exact same parts.

[okskeetertzx190]

Like mentioned the V6 200, 225, and 250 all get flashed to over 300hp when flashed. The 150 and 175 SHO get flashed to 230. Hydro-tech does flashing as well as several other guys that offer the Nizpro tunes. To the best of my knowledge the Nizpro tunes are 6400 rpm limit and Hydro-tech offers multiple options for the RPM limit. You just remove the ECU(5 mins) and send it in. They flash it and send it back you.

[1ranger487vs]

Do you have to run premium high octane

[Hawg]

We flash the Yamaha SHO engines. It is $899 to flash the ECU. Mail us your ECU or bring us the boat and we can flash it, and re-install it. I recommend always keeping the stock rev limiter. It is cheaper to purchase a 200 and have us flash it to a 332hp, all the SHO 200,225 and 250s are the same block, and will flash to 332. You do not have to run 91 octane, but make sure you are running the 89 (which is what Yamaha states the engine runs on anyway).

Feel free to message me with any questions.

Thank you,

Justin Russell
Russell Marine Products

[Twray]

Justin, will the Yamaha YES warranty still be honored?

[PatriotAW4]

We flash the Yamaha SHO engines. It is $899 to flash the ECU. Mail us your ECU or bring us the boat and we can flash it, and re-install it. I recommend always keeping the stock rev limiter. It is cheaper to purchase a 200 and have us flash it to a 332hp, all the SHO 200,225 and 250s are the same block, and will flash to 332. You do not have to run 91 octane, but make sure you are running the 89 (which is what Yamaha states the engine runs on anyway).

Feel free to message me with any questions.

Thank you,

Justin Russell
Russell Marine Products

Who's tuning do you use? I want to get my 150 SHO done sometime.

[Hawg]

Who's tuning do you use? I want to get my 150 SHO done sometime.

. We use Nizpros. My dad has a vf150 SHO, ran 55mph stock, ran 61.7 with a flash with the same prop that ran 55mph and ran 68.9 Mph turning a 26" T2 Yamaha prop. It's on a 2023 Skeeter zx150

[PSM207]

We flash the Yamaha SHO engines. It is $899 to flash the ECU. Mail us your ECU or bring us the boat and we can flash it, and re-install it. I recommend always keeping the stock rev limiter. It is cheaper to purchase a 200 and have us flash it to a 332hp, all the SHO 200,225 and 250s are the same block, and will flash to 332. You do not have to run 91 octane, but make sure you are running the 89 (which is what Yamaha states the engine runs on anyway).

Feel free to message me with any questions.

Thank you,

Justin Russell
Russell Marine Products

Justin - Is this tune basically the Yamaha 300 Off Shore program?

[Hawg]

Justin - Is this tune basically the Yamaha 300 Off Shore program?

No it isn't. Hydrotech's is a 300 off shore tune basically. We use nizpro. There tune is a custom tune. Nizpro is basically hydrotech in Australia but more custom. They are purchasing engines, tearing them down, building their own flashes and view wear on parts etc. Nizpro does more flashes of ECU's than anyone. They do TONS of flashes on offshore boats around the coast.

[MCIPinkie]

Be sure you notify your insurance company that you are no longer running a 200 HP boat, but instead a 332.

[PatriotAW4]

Be sure you notify your insurance company that you are no longer running a 200 HP boat, but instead a 332.

Why? You don't have to do that and it would be a waste of time.

[dean c]

Why? You don't have to do that and it would be a waste of time.

I have to agree…you don’t call your insurance company when you chip your truck to add a 100 HP. I would be more concerned about warranty on the motor if something related to the flash damages the engine.

[SteezMacQueen]

I have to agree…you don’t call your insurance company when you chip your truck to add a 100 HP. I would be more concerned about warranty on the motor if something related to the flash damages the engine.

The beauty of the flash is it doesn’t make the motor less reliable. Nor does it cause failures. It’s simply a software program that is a stock tune for the higher rated HP version of that motor. In the 150-175 motors, they are part for part the same as an F200. So it simply reprograms the computer to the F200 program. The 150-175 motors are simply F200’s with a detuned computer and a different paint scheme. Same basic deal with the SHO 200-225-250. They are the same as the offshore F300….so they get the F300 software and they are then 300+ motors. Nothing about any of the parts are in danger of failure. They simply are the same parts as the “worlds most reliable off shore motors”.

Both companies that are tuning the Yamaha motors state that the warranty is not effected. I think the reasoning for not effecting the warranty is the fact that the motors are not modified. The computers aren’t modified either. They are reprogrammed change the motors behavior. If the F200 is reliable making 231 HP….the VF150 will be equally as reliable making 231hp….since the ONLY differences between the two is the software on the ecm and the paint on the exterior.

…as for insurance? I have a flashed 150. My insurance company, Allstate, said “sounds like fun”.
if something were to happen to my SHO150, I’m sure the insurance would cover another SHO150…doubtful they would cover flashing the replacement. If I wanted to flash a second motor, I would have to purchase the tune and download it to my computer.

The guys that are against the “tuning” of the motors are either upset that their motor isn’t supported, or they just like to bitch. One of the two.

as for one of the other questions above? What other things are involved?
props. Several. I have three different props, soon to be four. I have two props for the stock tune and two props for the F200 tune. Usually you can go up two pitch’s on the VF150 to Nizpro231. I have a 21 and 22 Tempest Plus for stock setting and a worked 23 for summer and T2-25 VMax prop for winter and 231 tune.

[PatriotAW4]

The beauty of the flash is it doesn’t make the motor less reliable. Nor does it cause failures. It’s simply a software program that is a stock tune for the higher rated HP version of that motor. In the 150-175 motors, they are part for part the same as an F200. So it simply reprograms the computer to the F200 program. The 150-175 motors are simply F200’s with a detuned computer and a different paint scheme. Same basic deal with the SHO 200-225-250. They are the same as the offshore F300….so they get the F300 software and they are then 300+ motors. Nothing about any of the parts are in danger of failure. They simply are the same parts as the “worlds most reliable off shore motors”.

Both companies that are tuning the Yamaha motors state that the warranty is not effected. I think the reasoning for not effecting the warranty is the fact that the motors are not modified. The computers aren’t modified either. They are reprogrammed change the motors behavior. If the F200 is reliable making 231 HP….the VF150 will be equally as reliable making 231hp….since the ONLY differences between the two is the software on the ecm and the paint on the exterior.

…as for insurance? I have a flashed 150. My insurance company, Allstate, said “sounds like fun”.
if something were to happen to my SHO150, I’m sure the insurance would cover another SHO150…doubtful they would cover flashing the replacement. If I wanted to flash a second motor, I would have to purchase the tune and download it to my computer.

The guys that are against the “tuning” of the motors are either upset that their motor isn’t supported, or they just like to bitch. One of the two.

as for one of the other questions above? What other things are involved?
props. Several. I have three different props, soon to be four. I have two props for the stock tune and two props for the F200 tune. Usually you can go up two pitch’s on the VF150 to Nizpro231. I have a 21 and 22 Tempest Plus for stock setting and a worked 23 for summer and T2-25 VMax prop for winter and 231 tune.

This is 100% accurate.

[Cliffprocraft190]

The beauty of the flash is it doesn’t make the motor less reliable. Nor does it cause failures. It’s simply a software program that is a stock tune for the higher rated HP version of that motor. In the 150-175 motors, they are part for part the same as an F200. So it simply reprograms the computer to the F200 program. The 150-175 motors are simply F200’s with a detuned computer and a different paint scheme. Same basic deal with the SHO 200-225-250. They are the same as the offshore F300….so they get the F300 software and they are then 300+ motors. Nothing about any of the parts are in danger of failure. They simply are the same parts as the “worlds most reliable off shore motors”.

Both companies that are tuning the Yamaha motors state that the warranty is not effected. I think the reasoning for not effecting the warranty is the fact that the motors are not modified. The computers aren’t modified either. They are reprogrammed change the motors behavior. If the F200 is reliable making 231 HP….the VF150 will be equally as reliable making 231hp….since the ONLY differences between the two is the software on the ecm and the paint on the exterior.

…as for insurance? I have a flashed 150. My insurance company, Allstate, said “sounds like fun”.
if something were to happen to my SHO150, I’m sure the insurance would cover another SHO150…doubtful they would cover flashing the replacement. If I wanted to flash a second motor, I would have to purchase the tune and download it to my computer.

The guys that are against the “tuning” of the motors are either upset that their motor isn’t supported, or they just like to bitch. One of the two.

as for one of the other questions above? What other things are involved?
props. Several. I have three different props, soon to be four. I have two props for the stock tune and two props for the F200 tune. Usually you can go up two pitch’s on the VF150 to Nizpro231. I have a 21 and 22 Tempest Plus for stock setting and a worked 23 for summer and T2-25 VMax prop for winter and 231 tune.

So .... are you saying that you are switching back and forth between the two tunings based on the season? Could you elaborate on that? Thanks.

[Jwknight17]

Can you flash the Mercury engines?