Hello everyone, my question is this. Is a 4 inch jack plate worth having on an Ranger RT 178. I’m not going to be fishing any tournaments,  just fishing a couple times a week if I can. I appreciate all input....

Adding a jack plate is required if you want to tweak that last little bit of performance out of one,  however, they also go hand in hand with a good SS prop.  Doesn't make since to put a jack plate on it with an aluminum prop that's going to kill most anything the jack plate might gain.  Plus, there is a little bit of math used to determine just how much jack plate.  Usually you want to have about 1 1/4" from the bottom at the back of the pad to the front edge of the motor with the motor trimmed so the anti cav plate is level with the bottom of the boat for each foot of boat length. 

Also, if that's a fairly new boat, check with Ranger.  They get pretty strict about how much if any setback you can add without voiding the warranty on the hull.

On that boat quite honestly it’s a huge waste of money. Ask me how I know?.

It is not a high performance hull made for speed.
Will you gain rpms, yes.
Will you spend over $1000 or more to get there, yes.
Will you lose rough water stability, yes.

Will you look back after doing it and question your decision, most likely.

 

Honestly if you want to go faster, have more stability, and get up in skinny water, buy a fiberglass boat.

 

Again, ask me how I know.?

I had my JP removed on a Triton TX18

E-rude dude, thanks for the information. You answered my question. I won’t be getting one.