rookie, dont everyone beat me up at once

[bucketmouth]

:confused:just lookin for input on jack plates "purpose" expecially pros and cons along with pros and cons os hydraulic vs manual. advantages, disadvantages to having one. thanks in advance...had heard from a guy that it took him time to get use to, but never asked him what he meant.

[Dougw]

Lotta reasons for a jackplate:

1.) Allows you to fine tune your set-up: Without a jackplate you are limited to bolt holes on the engine mounting bracket - 3/4"(appox) per hole. Good chance you'll miss the sweet spot. This is relative to engine height

2.) Leverage: will provide additional bow lift with less trim

3.) Places prop further from hull allowing the prop to run in a bit "cleaner" water - less turbulance.

4.) Disadvantage hydraulic/manual: Places more stress on transom.

4.) Hydraulic advantages: Allows you to drop the engine for a better hole shot and raise for better top end. It also allows you to drop the engine some in rough water for a better ride. By lifting the engine you can also take-off in shallower water.

5.) Hydraulic disadvantages: cost, rigging(hoses, fluid tank and wiring), additional weight at rear of boat

[bucketmouth]

nicely said doug, guess i'm hung up on the stress it would cause on the transom. I mean is it really worth the trade off for having one?

[OutdoorFrontiers]

Yep, Doug pretty much nailed it. The "getting used to it" part is finding the right engine height for your rig. And that comes by being observant and seat time.

Three of my last four boats had hydraulic plates and it took a little bit of time to find that sweet spot where the boat ran best, but not long. Watching the tach, the water pressure gauge, the speedo and just feeling what felt "right", I soon found what engine height was right.

My FastCat had a hydraulic plate with a dial control. When I wanted to take off, I'd dial the plate all the way down, trim the motor all the way down and jump on the hot foot. As the boat jumped up on plane, (once I knew the right setting) I'd just spin the dial to 4 and start trimming the motor. Easy.

A hydraulic plate is great to have when loading the boat on the trailer at shallow landings too. Raise the motor vertically and it pushed the boat nice and level onto the trailer without worrying about grounding the prop. With a lower motor setting and simply trimmed up, it wanted to push the transom down and raise the bow, giving less forward thrust.

My current boat has a manual jackplate, my next boat will have a hydraulic plate.

Steve

[Dougw]

The '05 loaner boat is the first one I'll have driven with a hydraulic plate. Should be interesting. It has a blinker stem control - would much rather have the dial Steve refered to. Find the sweet spot, dial it in once the hull lays over and forget about it!

[jkk]

That does sound like a nice setup