About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know jack about modern outboards!"

[Philster]

About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know jack about modern outboards!"

As some might be aware, I am seriously considering a jump over to a bigazz outboard on a new Checkmate 24. One option listed is a 10" hydraulic jack plate (cost: around 1500 clams).

Now, don't laugh at me, but are you telling me that without this hydraulic jack plate that power tilt/trim are not going to happen ? (I am not asking the dealer this!) :redface:. I sort of assumed that any decent outboard would be power tilt/trim out of the box.

Or, is a hydraulic jack plate just a beefier/different way to handle power tilt/trim?

(My old Chappy w/ 115 'rude had no tilt/trim, unless I yanked it up myself by hand. My current Alumacraft with 40 HP Merc has tilt/trim, but I don't recall any conversations about jack plates when I got 'er).

 

[mommicked]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Jack plates raise the engine vertically up and down the transom, good for running in shallow water w the motor jacked up higher than cruising depth. I think a few may have tilt function also. For that big boat you may want a bracket installed instead, but i'm sure that would be expensive also.

 

[robert graham]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Jack plates are to raise the motor for performance, speed, reduction in drag of lower unit, not tilt and trim. It would probably make good sense on a 24' Checkmate, probably good for several more MPH's top speed. That boat is probably rated for a 300HP motor. Whatever motor you buy for that boat will have power tilt and trim built into it. I had a 16' Checkmate with a 115HP Yamaha on it and really enjoyed the boat, fast, smooth, good-looking. You're gonna love it! Good Luck!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

the post above me is exactly correct... The jack plate is a different function, and for that boat, isn't for shallow water. (though that is a common purpose for a jack plate on a fishing boat) Its purpose in this example is for top speed. With that hull, you need the motor down lower for best takeoff, and then need to raise it up to reduce drag for top speed. You still use tilt/trim for controlling the boat's attitude.

Don't think of it as an extra complication you wouldn't have with an I/O. This is a bonus feature that you can only do with an outboard, with a stern drive you are stuck with it being at the very lowest the designer thinks is necessary.

 

[Philster]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Oh, I get it now. Vertical up/down instead of tilt up/down.

With the hydraulic jack plate, when approaching shallow water, say to come in just off a beach or sand bar, does one still revert to tilt/trim functions, or do you combine tilt/trim with the vertical capabilities of the jack plate?

Okay, so yeah, on an I/O, for on-plane speeds, you trim up, and on this setup being discussed, go with trim up and raise via the jackplate? Is it about finding the right combo?

Seems like something I'd regret not getting. Sheesh... I need a cheaper hobby.

 

[QC]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Yeah Phil, you should confirm if the top speed #s you've seen are with or without a jack plate. This is one of the reasons that OBs are faster for the same power, you can raise the "X" dimension. On an I/O the X dimension is basically in line with the engine crankshaft, you can't move it, so the "height" of the drive is fixed, you can't raise the anti-ventilation plate and of course the propeller.

OBs have four serious benefits for top speed (assuming same horsepower at the propshaft:
1) Lower weight
2) Weight further aft so higher bow trim before blow out
3) Trim "leverage" is further aft, same thing, allows for higher trim and,
4) Ability to raise vertically, which allows you take further advantage of #3 and

All four mean less boat in the wawa . . .

Oh, if you are going to get a jack plate you need to consider a water pressure gauge unless that is somehow covered in the gauge package already. When you raise the OB, you can get the lower unit's water intakes too high to get a full gulp of water

 

[Philster]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

I'm gonna negotiate it in. I'll get it.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

The other big plus is moving the motor back the 10".

Does the Checkmate have a notched transom?

I'd look at Velocity and Superboat if I were you before making the leap.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

If you can afford it, then by all means go for it. It's like putting a 2" shorty lower on you Bravo I, but better, moves the prop farther out too.

 

[Philster]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

I'd look at Velocity and Superboat if I were you before making the leap.

Velocity and Superboat do not make boats that meet at least one criterion: large open bow in a 24-26' boat

 

[zopperman]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Like everybody else said, they raise the OB up and down vertically. They are often used to raise or lower a motor on which the anti cav plate is not lined up properly with the keel.... with the hydraulic one, on the fly, you can make sure that there is no ventilation

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Get the jack brutha!

It will help get every ounce of speed out of the 300 opti! =-)

 

[Philster]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Wildman, a Checkmate dealer in Florida, makes a custom 12" jack plate and he gets over 75mph out of the 24 BRX with the 300xs.

Not that I care about 1-2 MPH, but just answering some questions posted.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Philster, If your going to pull the trigger on this boat, jack plate, ect... I'm sure your zeroed in on a prop, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhJQp-q1Y1s
huts

 

[Willyclay]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

I do better with pictures so here's a link to Mercury's mounting height recommendations. While the chart is for "fixed" outboard motor installations, a hydraulic jack plate will allow you to cover the entire range. Good luck!

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/engineMountingHeight.html

 

[Philster]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Philster, If your going to pull the trigger on this boat, jack plate, ect... I'm sure your zeroed in on a prop, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhJQp-q1Y1s
huts

No stress over the prop at all. Narrowed it down to two.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know jack about modern outboards!"

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know jack about modern outboards!"

Velocity will make just about anything. So far I think they only made the 28' a bow rider but that's not saying Kenny wouldn't do a 26'. http://www.velocityboats.com/images/290/P1190831.JPG

Wildman is just up the road from me, so let me know if I can help in anyway. He's a great source for parts too, since he takes lots of new parts off his Checkmates and Liberators to put fancier ones on.

I look and no checkmates don't a have a notched transom, so yeah I'd definitely want setback. Also remember that's an entirely balsa cored boat.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

No stress over the prop at all. Narrowed it down to two.

One stainless high pitch for top end, and one sweet 4 blade for heavy load/yank arms off skier, I mean you need a spare anyhow right?

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

36' bow rider (mid cabin) for sale boat show boat.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2010-Velocity-360-Mid-Cabin-Bow-Rider-100355989

 

[Philster]

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Re: About Hydraulic Jack Plates or "Jeeze, I don't know squat about modern outboards!

Too big!