Jack Plate discussion?
 

What benefit do you get from having a jack plate?

I decided not to get one when I bought my boat. Bc I rarely fish in areas that are shallow.

Those that have a JP. What do you like about your it? How often do you use it? Or is it a convenient type of thing? I got for when I need it....

Those that don't have one do you wish you had one?

What's the reason for a 4" 6" 10" set back jack plate? How do you choose which one to get?




Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

They offer many advantages, overall performance of your motor is better with one. The setback puts the motor back beyond the transom which lets the prop run in cleaner water which will increase your speed and fuel consumption. And of course a jackplate will give a little shallower capability if needed. Def get hydraulic jackplate, do not get the manual one.

I love mine & use it pretty much every trip. I'll run my motor higher on the JP in calm water to get better performance, but if I'm crossing the bay in a chop I can jack it back down to keep more of the motor in the water.

I've also used it going into hog bayou by jacking all the way up (about 6") & idling in when it's shallow.

Another way is by getting on step in shallow water. Last weekend I was in 2 1/2' of water with a soft bottom & jacked it all the way up to get on step. As soon as I hit the throttle I started jacking the plate back down. By doing this, I hardly kicked up any mud. We tried this in a friends boat with a manual JP in the exact same location & didn't come close to getting on step.

X2 with Specnation and daxt79.

Make a wrong turn in the marsh and you will find you in a foot or less of water.

[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
I use my JP just about every trip also. I hate having to idle 100 yards in low water. Jack it up put the trim tabs down and hit the gas. It also makes a big difference in choppy water. You can run your motor a little lower than what you usually do and get more of the boat in the water.

what about the setback question?

what is the setback most of you find works best or how do you decide based on fitting your boat?

whats the "rule of thumb" for choosing a setback distance if there is one?

I have a 10" hyd JP and love it. I use mine every trip for the same reasons stated above. If my boat is floating I can get on step...Priceless if you like chasing reds in the marsh and ponds

When you get over 60 years old you don't need all that speed, so you get a gatortail and make sure you take any turn in the marsh that you want. ;)

Set back
 

Always buy with Cajun Jacker, he has a formula he uses to get the idle set back. I don't think he has a hyrolic one though.

There's a 10" Bob's for sale in the classified section. Looks brand new.

You won't regret it

Jack Plate
 

Reel good people to deal with and they will run and ajust JP for max performance.

So when you're
 

trying to get on step in shallow water and put your trim tabs down and jack the motor up, are you also trimming your motor up some or leaving it vertical?

Like most have said, I use mine every trip. Would not want a boat without one.

After the boat jumps on plane i start jacking it down and trimming up. I dont have any trim tabs. My bay boat is Aluminum

I trim my motor up but only about 25%. As I come on plane I trim my motor and jack plate down at the same time so I don't cavitate. Then start getting trim tabs up. I'm sure others do it different but this works for me and I fish a lot of shallow water.

ok
 

thanks for the input....will have to try that method next time I'm getting out of shallow water.

Are JP's worth putting on smaller boats? 18" with 90HP. I'm not looking for speed or fuel consumption increase, just shallow water ability.

* 18' *

Yes, a JP will help a small boat also.