Jackplate Help!

[Bone Collector]

I have a 2008 Sea Chaser 250LX. I have considered purchasing a jackplate for my rig. I fish only open water, so getting up extremely high is not a issue. I am in the process of purchasing a new Honda 250 for it and would like a suggestion of a jackplate. I am sure of what size I should go with or if I should even install one at all. I am plaining on going with a manual plate if I do purchase one, just to throw that out there. I am going more for better fuel economy, more then speed (don't get me wrong extra few mph would be great but I am not trying to break speed records by no means). Also, how hard is it to adjust? Do I have to remove the engine to adjust it? Every little bit of help is greatly appericated and also thank you all in advance.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Jackplate Help!

Welcome to iboats

Bob's Machine Shop sells very good ones but I would think this through............

A jack plate might require longer cables including a steering cable too......

I would ask around. I doubt the economy would be any different at all.

Manual plates require wrenches and either getting wet or on the trailer.

Unless you are looking for high performance I would pass on the expense and enjoy the boat

 

[Bone Collector]

Re: Jackplate Help!

I have plenty of cable, and the hydrualic steering has plenty of extra hose. Some extra speed would be great but not my primary concern. I am just trying to get everything I would like on the boat before the engine is installed. After that I am not going to remove it to install one.

 

[THMarineTeam]

Re: Jackplate Help!

A few points:

You might contact Carolina Skiff, who manufacturers that model (still in production in 2012). They might have a specific setback recommendation that runs best on that hull. Their number is (800) 422-7282.

You will see improvement with a jack plate - in top speed, fuel economy, and handling. Many folks running that size bay boat install jack plates for those reasons - both manual and hydraulic jack plates.

My estimation would be a 10" setback plate. One of the top manufacturers in jack plates is T-H Marine Supplies, who have been building jack plates for 25 years. The T-H Marine manual plates are called Z-LOCK? and are installed by many boat manufacturers and are carried by iBoats.

You can learn more about the Z-LOCK? plates at T-H Marines website - here is link to the Z-Lock page:
http://www.thmarine.com/products/Outboard-Jack-Plates/Manual-Jack-Plates/Z-Lock-Jack-Plates

Here is the link to the Z-LOCK? jack plates in the iBoats store:
http://www.iboats.com/T-H-Marine-Ma...8092523--session_id.099971573--view_id.685970

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Jackplate Help!

One of the top manufacturers in jack plates is T-H Marine Supplies

A little self serving isn't it?


I've got a 6" TH manual jackplate and have no complaints. It's not difficult to adjust, but as mentioned it's easier to adjust it while on the trailer. There will probably be a little bit of trial and error involved in deciding the best all around height, to make that easier I put index marks on the plate with a permanent marker so I can always tell my prop height in relation to the pad.

 

[Philster]

Re: Jackplate Help!

10" from Bob's Machine Shop is on my rig.

One nut to turn to adjust, and you can do it easier on the boat while the boat is in the water, and you never get wet. It's convertible to hydraulic.

Hydrodynamics makes something similar and they'll powder coat it to make it purdy.

Bob's Machine Shop Versa Jack:

There is one nut, at the top, and you crank that to adjust. There is a numeric guide next to it, too.

 

[THMarineTeam]

Re: Jackplate Help!

A little self serving isn't it? .

Ha... well sorry did not mean it to sound that way. Just pointing out we are one of the top brands in jack plates, which is the truth. Just like Coke saying it is one of top soft drink manufacturers. There are many jack plate brands, but there are really only 3 major brands that have significant market share in the country.

I hope my info was helpful regarding contact info for the manufacturer and suggested size for the OP's boat.

And our plates, just like the pictures posted of another brand are simple to adjust.

Good luck with your decision and good boating and fishing!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Jackplate Help!

Ha... well sorry did not mean it to sound that way. Just pointing out we are one of the top brands in jack plates, which is the truth. Just like Coke saying it is one of top soft drink manufacturers. There are many jack plate brands, but there are really only 3 major brands that have significant market share in the country.

I hope my info was helpful regarding contact info for the manufacturer and suggested size for the OP's boat.

And our plates, just like the pictures posted of another brand are simple to adjust.

Good luck with your decision and good boating and fishing!

Welcome Aboard THMarine Team!

The Moderators are very happy to have an "iboats.com partner" post and participate in the forums.

Now as a note to the other iboats members........ an "iboats.com partner"is a business that is fully recognized and supported by iboats. iboats sells the partner's products via the iboats store http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Accessories/dm/

Before any member gets his/her feather's ruffled ......... there are special rules for our trading partners such as allowable links to their web site, facebook etc.

Please support our "iboats.com partner"

Look at THMarine Team's special title

 

[Philster]

Re: Jackplate Help!

TH Marine Team must know that it's a tradition for all vendors to give away $100 gift certificates to the first 10 posters. Then, and only then, will the tradition of supporting the vendor's products continue.

Welcome!

 

[THMarineTeam]

Re: Jackplate Help!

TH Marine Team must know that it's a tradition for all vendors to give away $100 gift certificates to the first 10 posters. Then, and only then, will the tradition of supporting the vendor's products continue.

Welcome!

Philster - not only are you a helpful poster on this Forum - you are also funny! We appreciate that boating should be fun.

As a token of our appreciation for a funny welcome to the forums, we would like to award you a $100 gift certificate for any T-H Marine product! Just shoot us a PM and we will get that lined up.

Thank you and Bob for your welcome messages!

 

[Philster]

Re: Jackplate Help!

Well, it's a deal! I'm now working on a T-H theme song! Oh, and sending that PM, too! THANK YOU!

WOoooooooooooo HOooooooooo!

You guys rock!

 

[THMarineTeam]

Re: Jackplate Help!

Philster, check your PM to learn how to claim you $100 product credit from T-H Marine.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Jackplate Help!

Philster - not only are you a helpful poster on this Forum - you are also funny! We appreciate that boating should be fun.

As a token of our appreciation for a funny welcome to the forums, we would like to award you a $100 gift certificate for any T-H Marine product! Just shoot us a PM and we will get that lined up.

Thank you and Bob for your welcome messages!

AHEM...if you count all of Philster's posts a "one poster" and don't count THM......then I'm on that short list too