I have a 6" Hydra Jac jackplate with some corrosion if you want to barter. I need someone to hold my hand on Lake Erie this summer and show me the ropes?
I took it off and bought a new one on iboats last week with the 5% forum discount. I bought the one with the integrated pump "all in one" unit for 300hp from Bob's.
I ran all season with my DT200 and 6" set back jackplate. It's a dream.
I slip my boat in a tributary to the Ohio River and boat out to our island property. The mouth of the creek is as shallow as 2 1/2' deep, even less when they drop the level of the pool. I haven't built a dock on the island, so I beach there and use the jackplate endlessly. I've been able to take my Steiger in unbelievable places and slide the hull bottom right through the mud.
Some cons are,
-You'll have to raise the jack plate slightly to raise the motor all the way up or the steering arm will dig into the transom.
-You're adding another 50+ lbs to the transom
-You're moving the motor further away and as BOB_VT mentioned once, the jackplate works as a lever on a weak transom.
Some pros are:
-I can go anywhere while having the motor in a more upright position
-Get on plane in shallower water (never needed that option)
-As Teamster mentioned, cleaner less turbulent water
-Fine tune your speed and economy per RPM at cruise(which I did finally figure out at the end of the season).
-They're just bad
I'd never go without a jackplate again, but what do I know, I'd mount a machine gun on the front of my boat if I could:laser:...IMO, you don't need the gauge if you can see your motor.
that wind shield is off
With the shelves in my garage boat did not quit fit but should fit on lower side now that wind shield is off
