4 Inch Hydraulic Set-Back Plate - Th Micro Jacker????

[MI Gordon]

Hey all! I read all the time but very rarely post. After about 6 months of research I'm probably going to pull the trigger on a 2015 Ranger RT178 w/75HP Evinrude ETEC. I was pricing it on the Ranger website and noticed this option priced at a little over $1000.  I must confess I had to look it up to find out what it was so I understand it raises /lowers the engine vertically. Since this will probably be my retirement boat I'm going to spend the $ and equip it exactly the way I want, so I don't mind spending the cash. But I'm not sure if I would need or want it. So I'm looking for some guidance.......Thanks!

[Catt]

If I were to use a jack plate 4" aint enough & hydraulic aint needed.

[Way2slow]

If I was buying a new $40K boat, I would have the hydraulic jack plate for sure "if you are wanting peak performance".  Boat's generally come out of the hole better with the motor down, but ride better and run faster with the motor up.  With a manual jack plate, you have give a little on one end or the other, usually the hole shot.   Hydraulic also take a lot of work out of having to get the right height dialed.  Don't depend on it be dialed in perfectly when you get it.  To many variables for most dealers to spend the time getting that right.

 

Now, four inches is not a lot of extra set back, and Ranger may have enough built in setback they feel that's all the extra you need, and that may the all they will warranty their hull with.  So if thinking of going for more, see what Ranger has to say about that first.  Nothing like voiding the warranty of a brand new boat by using more setback than the authorize.

[Lund Explorer]

Unless you're going to find yourself wanting to blast off from very shallow water, I don't think I'd get one of these things.  An aluminum boat with a 75hp motor isn't built for flat out speed, so trying to squeeze another 1-2mph out of the top end doesn't seem to be the best way to add a $1k to your retirement toy.

 

If I was in your boat <pun intended!>, I think I'd use that money to upgrade electronics or pickup one of those anchoring systems for the transom.

[Way2slow]

Opps, I should have taken the binders off.  The name Ranger gave me tunnel vision and I automatically associated that with the "REAL" Ranger, didn't notice we were talking tin cans.  No, unless it a tunnel hull designed for shallow water, I would not spend the money on a hydraulic jack plate to go on an aluminum boat with a 75hp motor, almost a total waste of money.  Spend that on upgrading your electronics or something else it would be more useful on. 

[WIGuide]

It really depends on what type of water you fish. If there's an abundance of shallow water, a hydraulic jackplate is an awesome accessory. The way most of them are set, at idle you can jack it up high enough that if you hit something you'll bump the bottom of the boat before you smoke it with the prop. I'm not sure how much of a performance gain you'll see with it on that boat, but there will be some and they also help to economically as it allows you adjust to motor to the best height regardless of how it's loaded. It's up to you weather or not you want one, but I've had one on my last two boats, and don't think I'll have another bass boat without one.  

[BobP]

Jack plates are good things.  They put the prop in cleaner water further behind the boat for better performance.  And they make the motor height infinitely adjustable so that you can fine tune the height for better performance, quicker planing, and higher max speed.  But unless you fish very shallow water where you have to jump up on plane ASAP to get in/out of an area (and I think 99% of freshwater fishermen avoid this kind of spot anyway) - you do not need a hydraulic jackplate.  They make manual jackplates that will do exactly the same thing, only you have to use a wrench to raise/lower the motor height.  But most guys would say a jack plate has only minor effect on most aluminum boats.  

[Boatman]

I work as a Sales Manager at a Authorized Ranger Dealer and we do not order our in stock boats with Jack Plates on Aluminum Boats. To my knowlege we have not sold a 178 or a 188 with a jack plant. The reasons are as stated above plus the fact that when quoting out the boat we would be over $1,000 high. Ranger does offer this as an option but the advice about taking that extra grand and upgrading your electronics is spot on. Yes, on a glass boat with a 250 Opti Max it is almost mandatory but on a 178 I would try to talk you out of it if you were across the table from me and we were figuring on your boat.