What is a Jack Plate

[dave524]

What is a Jack Plate ? Is it used to lower a motor? How do you mount it on the boat ?

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: What is a Jack Plate

A jack plate is for raising or lowering an outboard motor. A jackplate would be installed by removing the motor, bolting the jackplate to the transom in the motor's former place and then bolting the motor to the jackplate.<br /><br />Some jackplates are manual operation, requiring a few bolts on the sides to be loosened, the hieght adjusted by a center vertical bolt or two, and the side bolts retightened.<br /><br />Others are electric or hydraulic operated allowing hieght adjusment on the fly. These would require wiring and sometimes hydraulic plumbing to be installed.<br /><br />The simplest type offers no adjustment and is not really a jackplate but a setback device.

 

[KRS]

Re: What is a Jack Plate

Typically, jackplates are for "kicker" or small outboards, don't try and remove your 200 HP outboard to install it on a jackplate.

 

[QC]

Re: What is a Jack Plate

Actually, jack plates can definitely be used with high horsepower engines. Many high performance bass boats have them and are used for high speed, but allow the operator to bring them down for good hole shot and a better bite in turns.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: What is a Jack Plate

Yeah, most bass boats these days have them. The idea is to get the motor as high as possible without sucking air in order to run in shallow water and reduce geargase drag for top speed.

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: What is a Jack Plate

azfyrfyter63 <br /> I think you may be thinking of a "Kicker Bracket"?