jack plate setting

wrenchtrnr72

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
78
i have a 150hp v-6 on a 18 foot boat, how do i set my jack plate to the correct spot. and i do not have low water pick up. all help is appreciated
 

BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
Re: jack plate setting

Cavitation plate at 1/2" above the boat bottom on lowest setting.
 

KCLOST

Commander
Joined
Jun 22, 2002
Messages
2,095
Re: jack plate setting

Bill, gave you a great position to start at...<br /><br />Check the performance at WOT carefully. Tilt out a little at a time and make sure you don't loose water pressure... Be ready for possible chinewalking... If you run into chinewalking you need to raise the motor up some more until you have a stabilized hull at around full tilt...<br />Watch your water pressure.. If you don't have a guage, get one... Very easy to hook up...My cavitation plate is probably 2-2.5 inches above the bottom of the hull when the motor is vertical, and I just start to loose a little water pressure at full tilt...
 

wrenchtrnr72

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
78
Re: jack plate setting

at wot it was chinewalking really bad the bow was jumping 2-4 feet. that is not a fun thing!!! when i raise my motor this will cure this prob? i did not want to try to drive it through the walking, that is not fun. i think i was doing about 70-75 mph when this happened.
 

BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
Re: jack plate setting

Is it chinewalking or porpoising...side to side or bow up and down?
 

KCLOST

Commander
Joined
Jun 22, 2002
Messages
2,095
Re: jack plate setting

Porpoising (bow hops) is different than chninewalking (boat wiggle). Raising the motor will cure chinewalking, but I'm not sure about porpoising. It may, because you will get more rpms, and possibly some more bow rise.. But I can't promise that.
 

wrenchtrnr72

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
78
Re: jack plate setting

she is moving left to right at wot with trim up.(not up but max performance spot) boat is smooth no up and down. just bow goes side to side at wot, i can trim down a tad bit and it stops. i dont want to try and drive through it, cause something stupid might happen then I GO FLYING! know what i mean?
 

KCLOST

Commander
Joined
Jun 22, 2002
Messages
2,095
Re: jack plate setting

Ok, that's chinewalking (don't try to drive through it, that's dangerous). You need to raise your engine up some.. Try one hole at a time and retest... Watch your water pressure....<br /><br />Let us know...
 

wrenchtrnr72

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
78
Re: jack plate setting

thanks man, i am going to raise it up tonight. than tomorrow see if it does better, i know at 70-80 mph that aint no fun!!! at all.
 

KCLOST

Commander
Joined
Jun 22, 2002
Messages
2,095
Re: jack plate setting

At idle you should see around 10psi, but it will increase with more rpms obviously...<br /><br />To make a long story short.... (and I don't know what year motor you have to confirm)... If you have a 80's to early 90's 150v6, it should run about 20+ at WOT...<br />When I'm at WOT mine runs about 22-24psi, if I tilt out fully, I can start to see a drop every now and then in rough water... So I think I have the proper set-up...<br />I have the high pressure water pump however.. We need the serial number for you motor (or year) to confirm what you have...<br /><br />By the way, you will get an overheat alarm if you don't have enough pressure, so keep that in mind...
 

BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
Re: jack plate setting

I did a temp gauge with the low water pickup. You can watch the temp go up slowly. Otherwise you may be running on the edge of too hot all the time without an alarm going off.
 

jpen123

Seaman
Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
54
Re: jack plate setting

What does a jack plate do for the boat performance? I have a 91 champion 184 dcr with a merc 175 efi/xri and idea what it should top out at?
 

wrenchtrnr72

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
78
Re: jack plate setting

hello KCLOST, thanx for your help! my motor is a s# 5503559 v-6 merc 150. it was supposed to have a high pressure pump put in it,( i was told?). i just raised the motor about 2". i hope this cures the chinewalking down some. i have a 18' hurst weapon bass boat.
 
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