Do I need a jackplate ?

[chicobass]

Iv'e got a brand new Ranger 185 VS with an XR-6 merc. It tops out at around 62 mph @ 5200 RPM. No chinewalk problems or any other handling problems for that matter. Would it be to my advantage at all to get a jackplate for top end speed or low end power ? I currently have a Tempest 3 blade 24 pitch prop .

[Ben]

To get the most out of almost any setup, a jackplate is a must, if for nothing else, to get the engine height dialed in.   I also have never seen a boat that more setback than what's built in didn't help.

The size/type boat, manufactor's warrenty, the built in setback and the motor weight play a key role in just what size jackplate you need.

Don't think I've ever seen a bass boat they used in a manufactor's shoot out that the factory didn't have a jackplate on it.  Most have the hydraulic so they can drop the motor for the whole shot and raise the motor for max speed.

[flechero]

Considerations when you make the decision:

Do you need any more speed tha 62mph?  (I'm not suggesting you don't, just asking if you think you really need more)

Wiil your handling change?  It may get better or may get worse... you turning at speed will change... how much, I don't know.

Do you need more low end power?

Will ther be a significant enough change to justify the cost?  

Will you also have to change the prop anyway to maximize the effectiveness of the jack plate?  

High end and low end can be changed pretty dramatically with only the prop change.

I think you will have an easy decision for or against, once you look into those questions.

If you end up getting it, please post back woth answers to my questions... I have an idea on each of them and would like to see how close I was.

Thanks.

[flechero]

To get the most out of almost any setup, a jackplate is a must,

Don't think I've ever seen a bass boat they used in a manufactor's shoot out that the factory didn't have a jackplate on it. Most have the hydraulic so they can drop the motor for the whole shot and raise the motor for max speed.

I agree with all of that.  Keep in mind though, they have an unlimited budget and need every last mph to use in promo material.  It's like a race car, thousands of $$$ spent to gain fractions of a second.

Don't get me wrong, if I hit the lottery, I'd have all my vehicles and boat decked out... or I'd just buy new ones already decked out!

A guy has to dream, right!

[Ben]

The manufactor's don't use jackplates to sell jackplates, they use them to sell their boats.  In most cases, the jackplate is an option, but without it during their shootouts, they would be sucking eggs to similar boats with one.  

A properly set up boat will have better holeshot, turn better, drive better, and run faster than one that has the motor slapped on the back and an off the shelf prop.

Granted, in some cases there are no overall huge gains but there's enough you can feel the difference.  

A friend blew the 1994 200 hp Johnson on a 1994 Stratos 201 he had just bought and used three times.  He asked me if I would rebuild it for him and do a little of my magic on it.  Best speed he had seen before it broke was 62 mph with just him.  After breakin, it ran 74 with same setup.  I added an eight inch jackplate, and a custom tuned 28" raker and after getting it dialed in, boat ran 78.6 gps with he and I and live well full (both of use weigh over 200 lbs) and handled 10 times better.

[flechero]

Ben,

I wasn't trying to say it was a bad idea.  Only that it will cost some money and will change his set up... it might improve a lot maybe just a little, and of course that is also subjective.  

You made a great point about the prop... which I also tried to make.  A good prop will do a lot.  Maybe enough to satisfy what he wants his boat to do, maybe not.

You obviously believe its a good idea to go with the jackplate and a new prop and I might agree, but not until I had answered some of the questions I posed. (as I'll mention in a minute)

I was only suggesting that he look into those factors, as he may not (since he didn't specify) be looking to get all possible performance out of his boat.  Also he didn't say how much $$$ he was wanting to spend.  

All I did was encourage him to look at what the cost was vs. what the benifits would be.  Once he knew those it would be an easy choice, either way.

I'll use myself as an example of what I'm saying...  I went through this very decision back when I got my boat.... Even with the jackplate, I was going to need a new prop.  Good props are not cheap and neither is a jackplate set up.  I wasn't wanting to spend all that money to get a little better top end speed if I didn't need to.  So I took a rep from the prop shop and 6 props to the lake & ran all of them...  The right prop did all I wanted... for $425 (back in 1994).

Had  the prop alone not done it, I would likely have invested in the rest.  But I didn't need or want to absolutely max out what the boat could do since my livelyhood doesn't depend it.  I felt that 60mph was enough, for me, and just a prop did it in my case.

Sorry for such a long post, just trying to explain properly.

[Ben]

100% true.  If you don't have about $1,000 you're willing to spend, you're not gonna do much to realy improve your setup.  

You can be patient, shop around and find good used jackplates for $100 - $150.  The one most important part of any setup is the prop.  That's what transfers the motors power to the water and so many people seem to think just because they have a stainless prop, they're good to go and don't see a need in spending money on it.  

If you happen to be lucky enough the dealer realy knew what he was doing when he proped the motor, you can send your prop off and have one of the specialist like Rich Boger tune it for your boat for $200 - $350.   However, most of the time, you find what you have is totally wrong for your setup and have to buy the prop and have it tuned for about $800.

Yes, speed wise, you may only see a couple of mph gain, a small difference in hole shot and other handling features, for your $1,000 spent.  Some boat are just lead sleds, the hulls peak out at a certain point and no mater what you do, it makes little difference.  Others respond very favorably to a little fine tuning.

[chicobass]

Thanks to the both of you for your insight. I will take all of it into consideration before spending anything.

[flechero]

No problem, we agreed on almost everything but didn't word it right from the start.

[justtrying]

jackplates aren't just for big boats & speed.

i even have a jackplate on my small boat - not for speed, but because it lets me get into shallow areas that i could not without one.

the rivers around here have been very low this year & w/o jackplate i could never have gotten into some of the places where i caught some of my biggest fish.