I have a 2009 G3 1860SC with Yamaha 90 hp 2 stroke. I want to instal a Hyrdaulic jackplate. I contacted G3 and asked about a recommended setback. What I got back was legaleze response that said we can't help you. Can anyone assist me in determining the best setback for my boat before I dropp $1000.00?

I would suppose that the transom on a G3 is just a strong as the one on a Tracker. When I contacted them about the same issue, they replied with 10" max. I went with 6" because I didn't want to have to replace the throttle and shift cables with longer ones. BTW, my boat is a 2003 Tournament V-18 and my motor is a 150 Merc.

Get the bottom of the hull somewhat level use the tongue jack. Sit a level on the motor's anticav plate and level it with the trim.

Measure from be bottom trailing edge of the pad to the leading edge of the motor. Normally you want this to be approx 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" per foot.

The problem you are going to run into is the steering and possibly the control cables. In most applications you won't have enough additional length to set it back more than an additional six inches, and many times you can't even go back that much. If you have hydraulic steering, sometimes you have more extra hose than what you have with steering cables.

You also have to look at where the cables come out at the rear. Most of the time they come out into the splash well. This causes too problems trying to make an S bend in the cables to get them into the motor after doing you setback the cables have to be run straight out the back. Again, hydraulic steering allows more flexibilty to make the S bend needed for additional setback.

Check out everything before buying the jackplate, sometimes the jackplate is only half the expense when you have to start replacing steering etc.

Also, double check with the manufactor and see what their max allowable offset is, most will void your warrenty, if you still have any, if you exceed their max. Some manufactors don't allow any additional offset.

I just realized you are dealing with a G3 tin can. A major problem I've seen with a lot of aluminums is, even without any additional setback, they are bad about porposing rapidly (like taking your hand and slapping the water as fast as you can) when running in the mid to upper 40's and trimed out properly. Never been in a G3 but I've been in several Trackers that did this. Additional offset would make this condition even worse. This is caused by the flex in the aluminum hull.

I went to the G3 website but could not find an options list. Went to Tracker, and they only offer two options on their Tournament 190, trailer brakes and a charcoal ratchet strap/cable cover. On their Nitro series, manual jackplates and hydraulic jackplates are available as options. The Z-8s and Z-9s come with manual jackplates as standard equipment. The option is an upgrade to a hydraulic unit.

I did some searching and found the G3 legaleeze when someone asked the same question as you on a boating forum. There response stated that their boats, as built, meet or exceed Coast Guard and industry standards. They would not recommend modifications to their hulls, as the modifications might result in a non-conforming hull.

If you have an '09 G3, it likely has some warranty remaining. In fact the hull might be warranted for several years, but I don't know. If it does, I would suspect that modification might void any warranty and if your transom failed, you might own it. Just something that you might want to consider before actually doing it.