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Author Topic:   Jackplate: Guage or no guage?

logjamslam posted 03-11-2003 11:30 PM ET (US)
Will probably buy CMC PL-65 for 22'whalerdrive/250 0X66 30" never used a jackplate before. A guage is about a $100.oo
option. If I don't buy it will I always be going man I wish I had a guage. If I do buy it will I be throwing away a hundred bucks?
Or does anyone prefer a different brand?
Any input from you jackplate guys would be appreciated. Thanks, Greg
Cruiser posted 03-12-2003 10:04 AM ET (US)
Gauge for what? Water pressure?
Bigshot posted 03-12-2003 10:18 AM ET (US)
No guage, you know when you are up or down. I never use my trim guage for my outboard....actually I don't have one.
logjamslam posted 03-13-2003 02:48 PM ET (US)
I have never used a guage for trim either. Having never used a jackplate thought I'd ask.
Does anyone know where I'd get the best deal on a CMC PL-65? Or know of a used one in good shape?
Bigshot posted 03-13-2003 03:03 PM ET (US)
try E-Bay. You should get a water pressure guage to monitor that....very critical with a power jack plate.
logjamslam posted 03-13-2003 04:41 PM ET (US)
the only thing I see on E-bay are manual plates. Both look heavilly made at a fraction of the cost for hydraulic plates.
Once you find a spot that works good for the majority of your operating conditions do you usually leave it or are you constantly tweaking it to maximize performance?
brisboats posted 03-13-2003 06:37 PM ET (US)
Couple years back I was shopping for a hydraulic jack plate for my Baja. Tried getting a nice one used on Ebay and on Scream and Fly but had no luck. Seems that the racer crowd doesn't part with these ,ended up buying one new. On a 19 foot boat I do not use a guage I can feel and hear when the prop is about to break free. I think if I were putting one on a Whaler I would just get a manual jack plate as someone said above once you find the sweet spot you probably wouldn't be adjusting it much.
Brian
jimfar posted 03-13-2003 08:38 PM ET (US)
Greg,
I have a CMC jackplate on my Montauk. I fabricated a simple ruler out of white PVC plastic that has a mark every inch. It’s simply numbered 1-5. It’s in clear view if I turn my head to adjust it or if I just want to know at what height I have it set. I fount the plastic in my garage. It was one of the kids old broken hockey sticks. Cost: $0.00 It was easy to make. I guess I’m a pretty good junk collector. If you wish I can send you a photo of my ruler.
Jim
jimfar posted 03-14-2003 10:55 AM ET (US)
Greg,
You asked: Once you find a spot that works good how much adjusting do you do?
would I get by with a manual jackplate or should I buy a power model like
I originally planned?Thanks,Greg
The adjustment depends on where and how you use your boat. I fish out of the Galveston Bay complex in Texas. The water varies from just inches to 60 ft deep. I use to have a fixed position jack-plate. I changed it out for the CMC hydraulic to give me a better option both shallow and deep. When it’s rough and deep (over 5’) in the bay I opt for the motor all the way down. It allows me to raise the bow without any cavitation. With the jack-plate all the way up I can run in less than a foot of water. It also give me a little better top end. Notice that I have also installed a Nedski Hydrofoil http://www.reliabilitymall.com/members/nedskimarine_services.html ). It allows me to keep on plain at only 12-14 MPH. It functions similar to trim tabs, allowing for a very short and shallow hole-shot. It also quiets down the outboard noise a lot. The boat now steers like it’s on rails without hydraulic steering. Together the jack-plate and hydrofoil have dramatically enhanced the performance of my Montauk and made it a better fishing boat all around! I believe that you could get by with a fixed position plate if you are only using your boat in deep water. I love the setup on my Montauk!
Clark Roberts posted 03-15-2003 12:51 PM ET (US)
I never thought I needed a gauge for jack plate height (Bob's Machine jack plate) until past Thursday night on return from restaurant accross very shallow shoal waters. Had to bring her down off plane and run engine all the way up to navigate a nasty oyster bar and had only one short/deep spot in more than a mile so getting up fast at that deep spot was necessary (and I had a fairly heavy load with 4 adults and about 60 gals of fuel). Without a gauge and not being able to see the visual gauge (std. on Bob's jackplate) located on jackplate I had to get motor down to plane out position (about 3" up) quickly... I had but one shot at this and I had to guess, then hit throttle... prop broke loose but I managed to drop engine down just in time to whistle out the other side of this hole and made it but shucked a few oysters in the process. I have, and use, my trim gauge so my trim was perfect for hole shot. If I never boated at night I would not need a gauge but am thinking of getting one as I need all the help I can get! If it saves me one time in a situation like mentioned above then money isn't wasted... happy Whalin'.. Clark.. Spruce Creek Navy
mustang7nh posted 03-25-2003 08:16 AM ET (US)
Jimfar
If one were to use the hyrofoil to plane at a slow speed due to increased chop in a head sea, would it still be effective vs using it with a jackplate for just shallow water?
Thanks

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Author	Topic: Jackplate: Guage or no guage?
logjamslam	posted 03-11-2003 11:30 PM ET (US) Will probably buy CMC PL-65 for 22'whalerdrive/250 0X66 30" never used a jackplate before. A guage is about a $100.oo option. If I don't buy it will I always be going man I wish I had a guage. If I do buy it will I be throwing away a hundred bucks? Or does anyone prefer a different brand? Any input from you jackplate guys would be appreciated. Thanks, Greg
Cruiser	posted 03-12-2003 10:04 AM ET (US) Gauge for what? Water pressure?
Bigshot	posted 03-12-2003 10:18 AM ET (US) No guage, you know when you are up or down. I never use my trim guage for my outboard....actually I don't have one.
logjamslam	posted 03-13-2003 02:48 PM ET (US) I have never used a guage for trim either. Having never used a jackplate thought I'd ask. Does anyone know where I'd get the best deal on a CMC PL-65? Or know of a used one in good shape?
Bigshot	posted 03-13-2003 03:03 PM ET (US) try E-Bay. You should get a water pressure guage to monitor that....very critical with a power jack plate.
logjamslam	posted 03-13-2003 04:41 PM ET (US) the only thing I see on E-bay are manual plates. Both look heavilly made at a fraction of the cost for hydraulic plates. Once you find a spot that works good for the majority of your operating conditions do you usually leave it or are you constantly tweaking it to maximize performance?
brisboats	posted 03-13-2003 06:37 PM ET (US) Couple years back I was shopping for a hydraulic jack plate for my Baja. Tried getting a nice one used on Ebay and on Scream and Fly but had no luck. Seems that the racer crowd doesn't part with these ,ended up buying one new. On a 19 foot boat I do not use a guage I can feel and hear when the prop is about to break free. I think if I were putting one on a Whaler I would just get a manual jack plate as someone said above once you find the sweet spot you probably wouldn't be adjusting it much. Brian
jimfar	posted 03-13-2003 08:38 PM ET (US) Greg, I have a CMC jackplate on my Montauk. I fabricated a simple ruler out of white PVC plastic that has a mark every inch. It’s simply numbered 1-5. It’s in clear view if I turn my head to adjust it or if I just want to know at what height I have it set. I fount the plastic in my garage. It was one of the kids old broken hockey sticks. Cost: $0.00 It was easy to make. I guess I’m a pretty good junk collector. If you wish I can send you a photo of my ruler. Jim
jimfar	posted 03-14-2003 10:55 AM ET (US) Greg, You asked: Once you find a spot that works good how much adjusting do you do? would I get by with a manual jackplate or should I buy a power model like I originally planned?Thanks,Greg The adjustment depends on where and how you use your boat. I fish out of the Galveston Bay complex in Texas. The water varies from just inches to 60 ft deep. I use to have a fixed position jack-plate. I changed it out for the CMC hydraulic to give me a better option both shallow and deep. When it’s rough and deep (over 5’) in the bay I opt for the motor all the way down. It allows me to raise the bow without any cavitation. With the jack-plate all the way up I can run in less than a foot of water. It also give me a little better top end. Notice that I have also installed a Nedski Hydrofoil http://www.reliabilitymall.com/members/nedskimarine_services.html ). It allows me to keep on plain at only 12-14 MPH. It functions similar to trim tabs, allowing for a very short and shallow hole-shot. It also quiets down the outboard noise a lot. The boat now steers like it’s on rails without hydraulic steering. Together the jack-plate and hydrofoil have dramatically enhanced the performance of my Montauk and made it a better fishing boat all around! I believe that you could get by with a fixed position plate if you are only using your boat in deep water. I love the setup on my Montauk!
Clark Roberts	posted 03-15-2003 12:51 PM ET (US) I never thought I needed a gauge for jack plate height (Bob's Machine jack plate) until past Thursday night on return from restaurant accross very shallow shoal waters. Had to bring her down off plane and run engine all the way up to navigate a nasty oyster bar and had only one short/deep spot in more than a mile so getting up fast at that deep spot was necessary (and I had a fairly heavy load with 4 adults and about 60 gals of fuel). Without a gauge and not being able to see the visual gauge (std. on Bob's jackplate) located on jackplate I had to get motor down to plane out position (about 3" up) quickly... I had but one shot at this and I had to guess, then hit throttle... prop broke loose but I managed to drop engine down just in time to whistle out the other side of this hole and made it but shucked a few oysters in the process. I have, and use, my trim gauge so my trim was perfect for hole shot. If I never boated at night I would not need a gauge but am thinking of getting one as I need all the help I can get! If it saves me one time in a situation like mentioned above then money isn't wasted... happy Whalin'.. Clark.. Spruce Creek Navy
mustang7nh	posted 03-25-2003 08:16 AM ET (US) Jimfar If one were to use the hyrofoil to plane at a slow speed due to increased chop in a head sea, would it still be effective vs using it with a jackplate for just shallow water? Thanks