Re: jack plates
Jack plates allow you to move an outboard vertically up and down as opposed to only pivoting up and down with the normal trim/tilt feature. Also, they generally move the outboard further aft which gives your standard trim more leverage on the hull. Used properly they can greatly improve top speed while also allowing for good hole shot (acceleration). Basically you have the ability to trim up, out, down and in with almost infinite combinations. Great feature!!!
Best guideline is don't go so high that the prop starts to blow out (grabs air, not water), and don't go so low that it throws a bunch of spray and slows the boat down . . . In some cases and prop combinations the opposite can be true too. I guess I would start with the anti-ventilation plate flush (flat thing just above the prop) with the bottom of the boat as a point of reference and adjust/experiment from there.
BTW, welcome to iboats!
