Simmon motorsports ECM upgrade on a 90HP four stroke review

[Bryden24shp]

Bump-I'm curious as to the results of others who got Simmonized.

Share your experience.

Got my ECM installed and cleaned all the spider and bird poop off the seats and up comes the wind and rain.... Started just fine and rev'ed her up once, got nuttin else...

Mother Nature knew you had a new toy to play with! Never fails... Our first nice 70 degree weekend is coming, and I'm working nights. Just ain't fair... Hope you get to test it soon.

[teecro]

Bump-I'm curious as to the results of others who got Simmonized.

Share your experience.

Got my ECM installed and cleaned all the spider and bird poop off the seats and up comes the wind and rain.... Started just fine and rev'ed her up once, got nuttin else...

Mother Nature knew you had a new toy to play with! Never fails... Our first nice 70 degree weekend is coming, and I'm working nights. Just ain't fair... Hope you get to test it soon.

Got her pulled out and pressure washed and plan to use alum brite on Sunday. Installed an arm rest on the Stbd fwd settee so the passenger can use it as a lean back. Installed a Mercury Smart-Craft gauge. Moved my 7 foot bimini to the front and installed an 8 foot bimini over the rear...

[mzodarg]

Teecro- You are getting closer to testing, good luck. Weather here in OK is not cooperating, looks like rain for the next 2 days.

[BoatCop]

Got mine back from Simons today and installed. Hoping to get out in the next few days to try it out. We're in the 90s till Monday when a cold front drifts through, dropping us to the low 80s.

[teecro]

Teecro- You are getting closer to testing, good luck. Weather here in OK is not cooperating, looks like rain for the next 2 days.

I need more time to truly rate the upgrade as I did not gain any speed at all... BUT I'm testing the boat with a new taller and larger 8' bimini top in the rear and the smaller 7' bimini installed in the front so I know that is going to cost me something. The front bimini was in radar position and the rear bimini was open and my top speed was down with 2 of us on board... But hole-shot was very strong and very little speed loss if any while making a rather sharp turn... Hopefully I can find some alone time next month home to do some testing with the tops down...

[BoatCop]

<snip>... Hopefully I can find some alone time next month home to do some testing with the tops down...

That's no fun. Always bring the wife/SO along and require that the "top down" part applies to everyone.

[teecro]

<snip>... Hopefully I can find some alone time next month home to do some testing with the tops down...

That's no fun. Always bring the wife/SO along and require that the "top down" part applies to everyone.

No she's the one who is no fun... Does not like the new found speed that the 75 motor gives over the 60 we bought the toon with...

[mzodarg]

Teecro- You are getting closer to testing, good luck. Weather here in OK is not cooperating, looks like rain for the next 2 days.

I need more time to truly rate the upgrade as I did not gain any speed at all... BUT I'm testing the boat with a new taller and larger 8' bimini top in the rear and the smaller 7' bimini installed in the front so I know that is going to cost me something. The front bimini was in radar position and the rear bimini was open and my top speed was down with 2 of us on board... But hole-shot was very strong and very little speed loss if any while making a rather sharp turn... Hopefully I can find some alone time next month home to do some testing with the tops down...

I wish you the best as you pursue this. I expected way to much and was very disappointed with my results. I went so far as lifting the motor one hole, purchased an enertia SS 15x15 prop and then I had this epiphany that it's a pontoon boat.

I will recommend that you approach this with the cautiously optimistic mindset.

Mike

[teecro]

...I wish you the best as you pursue this. I expected way to much and was very disappointed with my results. I went so far as lifting the motor one hole, purchased an enertia SS 15x15 prop and then I had this epiphany that it's a pontoon boat.

I will recommend that you approach this with the cautiously optimistic mindset.

Thanks Mike,

With having months between my last run in 15 and first run in 16 I knew that I would be testing a "new" boat as I've installed a larger 8' & taller Bimini in place of the 7' OE Bimini and moved the OE top up front. But I was surely not prepared to have basically gained nothing with the extra 40 HP as my max RPM has not changed. Is/Was the 28 MPH speed my small 18-foot boats brick wall? If so that's fine I just hope to least see some return in torque when pulling a tube or board with max souls on board... I can't even report any improved mileage etc as I also installed the SmartCraft gauge at the same time so it is new to me too. But I'll reserve my opinion until I have the time to test the boat on my own without bring rushed to which I'll try it with both tops closed to radar position and/or down and see what I get..

[mzodarg]

...I wish you the best as you pursue this. I expected way to much and was very disappointed with my results. I went so far as lifting the motor one hole, purchased an enertia SS 15x15 prop and then I had this epiphany that it's a pontoon boat.

I will recommend that you approach this with the cautiously optimistic mindset.

Thanks Mike,

With having months between my last run in 15 and first run in 16 I knew that I would be testing a "new" boat as I've installed a larger 8' & taller Bimini in place of the 7' OE Bimini and moved the OE top up front. But I was surely not prepared to have basically gained nothing with the extra 40 HP as my max RPM has not changed. Is/Was the 28 MPH speed my small 18-foot boats brick wall? If so that's fine I just hope to least see some return in torque when pulling a tube or board with max souls on board... I can't even report any improved mileage etc as I also installed the SmartCraft gauge at the same time so it is new to me too. But I'll reserve my opinion until I have the time to test the boat on my own without bring rushed to which I'll try it with both tops closed to radar position and/or down and see what I get..

I would agree with your thoughts on not passing judgement on whether it was worth it. I do know from my experience, I gained zero rpm increase and maybe 1-2 MPH increase and then I started chasing prop, raising the motor etc.... Although I did see an increase in speed and rpms when I raised the motor, it's safe to say that the ECM upgrade had zero to do with it.

I do get a better hole shot, but again its a pontoon. Primarily used for fishing, I don't tow a tube or ski behind it and to be honest I wasn't using a lot of fuel before I had it flashed.

I guess to sum it all up, there really is no significant gains other then the hole shot and I certainly can't verify that it was worth it. To be fair, I will do some more testing and I'll be sure to provide a full report after the season is over, that's if I keep it that long.
Just my Opinion,
Mike

[Bryden24shp]

Hey Mike, Eric will reflash it back to stock, and refund your money if your not satisfied, also. Just FYI...

[mzodarg]

Hey Mike, Eric will reflash it back to stock, and refund your money if your not satisfied, also. Just FYI...

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

Mike

[RobZ71LM7]

$650 for 2 mph.... I'd be thrilled! Realistically speaking that's not bad at all, even before you consider that on a 2-toon without strakes returns diminish quickly past a certain point. IIRC aren't you the same guy that went from a 5.3 Silverado to a 2500 Duramax to pull your pontoon? You may just have unrealistic expectations.

[BoatCop]

I think the biggest advantage to higher horsepower might not be a great increase in top speed. However it may make a big difference in maintaining speed with added weight. My top speed would drop off 10 MPH with 8 on board. I'll be interested to see if the tune helps that out.

[teecro]

I think the biggest advantage to higher horsepower might not be a great increase in top speed. However it may make a big difference in maintaining speed with added weight. My top speed would drop off 10 MPH with 8 on board. I'll be interested to see if the tune helps that out.

This is what I'm hoping for too...