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Need a Jack?
By: Phil Addison |
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Do you need a jack-plate? You probably do if you want to get to your favorite fishing hole a few minutes sooner, want to access an area which is unknown to mankind or better yet, quietly crossing through a shallow area and not let every living species of fish know that you?re on your way to do them harm. |
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A jack-plate is the piece of aluminum configuration that links the outboard engine to the transom of the boat. These things come in all sizes, designs, and price ranges. Most jackplates come in set back sizes from 2" to 12", and some lift or lower the engine as much as 6". There are manual, hydraulic, and electro-mechanical models to also choose from. Some are anodized or polished aluminum, while others are paint powder coated aluminum. Some utilize stainless steel support bars for strength. Others use tongue and groove and others use almost nothing. Whichever is chosen, its main function is the same across the board, which is to add to the overall performance of one?s boat. How does it do this? The following will help explain how performance is enhanced and will help one figure out what is the best "plate" for a specific application. |
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There are as many different brands of jack-plates as there are sizes and models. To name a few there?s Detwiler, Bob's, R&R,, T&H, CMC, Rite Hite, and others. It seems if someone manufacturers boating equipment or if someone has a machine shop, they try and make it in this business. The reason being is simple. Simple construction and serious profit margin per unit sold. Even though the construction is simple, there are some that still try and cut corners. Therefore, as an industry, there are some that make excellent plates, while others make very poor ones and this should be taken into consideration when one decides in strapping a $10,000 engine on to one. |
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Too many times have I heard stories and witnessed lost engines due to a broken jack-plate. These engines end up at times on the bottom of the lake, river, or bay system that adds expense far beyond the cost of replacing the broken jack-plate. One should also take in account that the engine could end up in their lap just as easy than at the bottom of the lake. Then there is the hassle of dealing with insurance company should one be lucky enough to return to shore. If in the market for a jack-plate I strongly suggest that one should be more concerned with "How much?" but, "How good?" For all the reasons above and below I have chosen Detwiler Industies Inc. as the manufacturer of the jack-plate that I bolt up to the transom of my Triton Tr 21 with a Mercury 225 EFI. It has been tested at the Mercury testing grounds known as Lake X and has performed stress tests exceeding 65 tons of sheer. |
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There are some thoughts that should come to mind when considering the purchase of a jack-plate. However, the first question one must decide is whether or not their set up will benefit from a jack-plate. The answer to this question is "Yes!". Most bass boats, bay boats, and fish / ski boats will benefit from the addition of a jack-plate. The reason is simple. Setting the engine back away from the transom of the boat will change the fulcrum point at which the boat rides on the water creating less hull drag. Setting an outboard engine off the transom also allows the prop of the outboard to work in cleaner water (water that is not aerated) which reduces prop slip and lets the outboard engine work more efficiently. Both reasons result in a better top end speed, better fuel efficiency and an overall better ride. |
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One must also decide whether to buy hydraulic, electro-mechnical, or manual. If money is not an option, go for the hydraulic. However, a hydraulic plate can set one back in excess of a $1,000 and a manual jack-plate is an upgrade from no jack-plate at all. With a manual jack-plate one will experience the benefits noted above. No doubt, the best manual jack-plate on the market is the Detwiler Hydro Lift "M" series. It can be adjusted from inside the boat with the turn of one bolt and will let one change engine heights in less than a minute. Other manufacturer's plates have to be adjusted while on the trailer due to the number of bolts that have to be loosened / retightened and the location of these bolts. To achieve the ideal position with this type of plate one may spend at least 20 ? 30 minutes making one adjustment. |
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Have you ever wished while fishing a shallow, stumpy, or shallow grass flat that your boat"s backend would quit swinging around with the engine trimmed out of the water? You no longer have this problem with a hydraulic plate now you can raise the engine as high as needed without using tilt and trim. One can even cross those shallow areas without blowing water 50 feet behind the boat. |
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A hydraulic plate will add even more advantages. For example, with my particular setup, I am able to achieve speeds of 2 to 4 mph greater than those which utilize a manual plate and 7 to 10 mph more than those that have no jack-plate at all. The reason for this is that I am able to turn a larger pitch prop more efficiently. At the same time, I am utilizing less rpms to achieve this speed and thus a slight improvement in fuel economy. This could also be done with a manual jack-plate, but the hole shot would be very poor. One would experience cavitation and prop blow out while coming out of the hole. Being able to lower the engine allows one to turn a larger prop and eliminates the condition where cavitation or blow out would occur. Another advantage by having a hydraulic jack-plate is it enables one to raise or lower the motor while underway to get the smoothest most comfortable ride in any water or load condition. |
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Hydraulic jack-plates come standard with toggle switches. Upgrades to the system allow the boater to know exactly where the engine is at all times. For example, Detwiler offers the Ex-zact dial and / or a gauge where others offer gauges and LED read outs. The Ex-zact dial is a calibrated switch, which is numbered 1 to 14 and corresponds to the engine's position at all times. All gauges, dials, etc. should be considered because of the chances of starving the engine of ample cooling from insufficient water pressure. Overheating an outboard could result in a burnt power-head and cost one about $3,500 to $5,000 in a replacement. The electro-mechanical jack-plates are basically the same as the hydraulic models. However, most will not raise or lower the engine under full speeds loads efficiently, especially the V6's. |
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In saltwater / bay / flats fishing applications the hydraulic plate is almost a necessity and not a luxury. Especially when fishing "skinny water". It will enable one to safely cross a shallow flat at the touch of a switch or dial, lift the engine while taking off in a shallow area, and again enabling the best ride depending on water and load conditions. |
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Once an individual has decided that a jack-plate is needed to enhance the performance of his boat and has decided what type is desired, then that person should begin doing the homework on the various manufacturers and the various models available. Questions that should come to mind are: |
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* Does it have welds that can crack from stress?
* Is the aluminum of high quality such as that used by NASA or the U.S. Air Force?
* Is the jack-plate strong enough to support your engine running flat out or in water that has 2 or 3 foot swells?
* What kind of support structure does the jack-plate have to support the outboard under full load or stressful water conditions?
* Are there areas where corrossion might become a concern and prevent operation in the future?
* How easy is the jack-plate to adjust and will it retain its position once set when conditions are less than favorable?
* Will the jack-plate take away from the appearance of your boat in 1, 2, 3, or 4 years due to paint flaking, metal pitting, or
corrossion.
* How fast is the travel up and down (hydraulic or electro-mechanical model) when running flat out? |
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Jack-plates are not necessities, but will make your boating / fishing experience more of a joy. There?s a whole lot of money spent in the boating industry and one might as well get every last bit of performance out of their specific set up. |
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