Jack Plate

[Boria]

I have a Key West Bay Reef 216 with a 225 etec. I have been thinking about putting a jack plate on it. The motor needs to be raised a little anyway. Have any of you ever put a jack plate on a bay boat? What are the advantages and disadvantages of adding the jack plate?

[iron banks]

I have one on my champion. 6 inches of setback. It allows me to dial in the prop and rpms with water pressure. It is not as critical on a bay hull as it is on a bass hull. Still, an option I wanted.

[Bailey Boat]

I have one on my Kenner, it allows a little more top end speed, as would be expected, but it also allows me to raise the engine for clearance issues when fishing skinny, or rock infested waters. Mine is a CMC hydraulic unit and has been bullet proof.......... IMO, well worth the investment.................

[shep70057]

Ditto to all of stated above. Mine is a CMC also with 10 inches of setback. I can easily raise/lower my motor 5 inches to find that sweet spot on any given prop at the ease of a switch.

[John Jensen]

I don't know if this will help you but here are some things that were solved with a CMC Manual Jack Plate.

The first irritant has been with me since I owned the boat. That is the motor well gate has to be lowered to lift the motor. When the gate is lowered you cannot access the fish box. And, too much water comes in under the gate from the transom. This is a self bailing boat so some water is expected.

The jack plate solved the gate lowering irritant. I can now leave the gate up all the time. Plus I removed the gate's bottom rubber water stopper and lowered the lower panel (after cutting it to the shape of the deck) so it meets the deck. Now minimal water comes into the boat and easily exits the boat.

The second irritant was the new 250hp E-Tec sticks further into the motor well than the Mercury, so the hoses, cables & wiring were getting severly bent when the motor was raised. They were also severly bent when under way with the motor down and the gate closed.

The jack plate easily solved the problem. Now all hoses, cables, etc. are free and clear of any 90 degree bends.

The third irritant was the E-Tec's 25" leg is longer than the Mercury 25" leg (or it mounts lower than the Mercury). The ventilation/cavitation plate was too low even with the motor mounted as high as it would go.

The jack plate was installed at the highest level and the motor mounted on the jack plate at its highest level. Then the jack plate was adjusted 5" full up (the jack plate allows for 5" up/down adjustment). Now I have the motor where it performs the best.