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Small outboard jack plates with larger set-back?


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In the attempts to build the 16ft boat I bought into a more functional fishing machine I keep running into the need for a jack plate to clear my transom mount side image transducer and give the option for a shallow water anchor. My outboard is 50hp, so I don’t need a system built for 300. I found that Bob’s Machine is making mini versions of their action series but with only 6.5” of set-back.

 

so, my question is; does anyone out there make a 10” set-back hydraulic jack plate that is built for 50 horse? If not, I will most likely go with the 6.5” Mini from Bob’s Machine.

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You are probably one of the very few that would want such a piece, so I seriously doubt anyone makes what you are looking for.  When most people are wanting that much setback, it's to make a boat with a big motor go faster and not many with a 50hp motor are concerned about going faster.

You start getting that much setback, you are putting a serious strain on your transom and the jack plate.   If someone made a 10" setback for a small motor, some idiot would try to put a huge motor on it, trying to save a dollar, and companies would not want to be liable for it, because some lawyer would try to make them when that idiot killed himself or destroyed his boat and motor with it.

Another concern I would have with a huge setback is the flotation of the transom on a 16' boat with the motor setting way back and the weight of shallow water anchors and I'm sure you are probably running three batteries in the back.  You could very easily end up with a boat that will take water over the transom when sitting in any kind of choppy water.  The more setback you have the more leverage the weight of the motor has to push the transom deeper in the water.

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Perhaps check out T-H Marine MJ-1-DP Mini Jacker Small Engine Jack Plate 

Might be just what the doctor ordered . . .

https://www.amazon.com/T-H-Marine-MJ-1-DP-Jacker-Outboard/dp/B0000AXQ9D/ref=asc_df_B0000AXQ9D?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539281984748&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584138858107199&psc=1

:smiley:

 

Just realized the above unit maxes out at 35 hp.

Even most of the auxiliary motor mounts have similar specs.

Your 50 hp motor may need an over sized manual jack plate.

 

Panther Marine makes several options

https://panthermarineproducts.com/

A-Jay

 

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10 hours ago, OilfieldCowboy said:

my question is; does anyone out there make a 10” set-back hydraulic jack plate

 

4"-6" manual is probably the biggest you'll find. You could have a 10" custom built but it would still be a manual.

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You aren’t side scanning at 30mph why not just tilt the motor some till it clears the transducer and you get a reading? You are running out of boat to do the things you want to do with it. I’m not saying you can’t. You are just trying to cram 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound box.

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4 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

 You are just trying to cram 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound box.

Yep. And absolutely zero desire to go to a larger boat.

 

17 minutes ago, airshot said:

A 10" setback is asking for trouble on a 16' boat !!

How so?

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2 hours ago, OilfieldCowboy said:

Yep. And absolutely zero desire to go to a larger boat.

 

How so?

Moves the weight further back away from the transom , will make it harder to get the bow down, and make the transom run deeper when getting up on plane.  Take the weight of your motor and move it back 10-12 inches and see what it does !!  Your weight is now further back than the boat transom and the motor weight gains an advantage..not a good one !!

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Looks the Panther unit answers your needs.

Tom

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55 minutes ago, airshot said:

Moves the weight further back away from the transom , will make it harder to get the bow down, and make the transom run deeper when getting up on plane.

 

No it doesn't ?

 

I'm running a 6" jackup/setback plate to get the boat on plane faster in shallow water. It does that by dropping the bow faster & lifting the transom.

 

The only way I know to get a 10" hydraulic plate is to have one custom built. I do believe a 10" is over kill, a 8" wouldn't be that much better.

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It wouldn't be cheap, but you could always do like Ott Defoe did on his 17' custom Tracker River rig. On one of the rigs, he installed a regular jack plate. Behind it, a hydraulic jack plate. That was on the boat that was outlawed. 

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46 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

It wouldn't be cheap, but you could always do like Ott Defoe did on his 17' custom Tracker River rig. On one of the rigs, he installed a regular jack plate. Behind it, a hydraulic jack plate. That was on the boat that was outlawed. 

That was a tunnel with pods on the back to wasnt it? The pods would help offset the motor.

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26 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

That was a tunnel with pods on the back to wasnt it? The pods would help offset the motor.

I'll have to check. I know that the first one didn't have pods. Counting the jet jet rig that he has now, I think that there have been three generations.

 

Edit, @Darnold335 have detailed pictures of the first two generations. I checked and neither have pods. They both did have adjustable trim tabs, looks like they're electric. I moved out of east TN before I could get pics of the jet rig, it might have pods. I know that there's YouTube videos about it.

Edited by volzfan59
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A lot of the Bullet guys run a 14" jack plate. just get you one of those.  It's not a lot of trouble to make your own.  I would do it as cheap as possible because I'm pretty sure you don't realize the problems you will create and find it will probably be wasted money.  Some heave aluminum angle and a couple small pieces of 1/4" aluminum plate and you can make all the setback you desire.

 

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DIY set 4” back frame made from 2 ea 4” channel 5/16” thick 6061-T6 can be welded to a 3/8 thick 6061 12” square plate.

Bolt on your favorite 6” jack plate and you have the desired 10” jack plate. Why is the 10” set back needed?

Tom 

 

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1 hour ago, volzfan59 said:

I'll have to check. I know that the first one didn't have pods. Counting the jet jet rig that he has now, I think that there have been three generations.

 

Edit, @Darnold335 have detailed pictures of the first two generations. I checked and neither have pods. They both did have adjustable trim tabs, looks like they're electric. I moved out of east TN before I could get pics of the jet rig, it might have pods. I know that there's YouTube videos about it.

I know his current jet rig has pods. From what I understand he swapped out the prop after the tournament for the jet. Since they can’t run jets. I would think with most bodies of water they fish a jet would be more of a disadvantage then an advantage anyway.  I don’t make the rules though.

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7 hours ago, airshot said:

Moves the weight further back away from the transom , will make it harder to get the bow down, and make the transom run deeper when getting up on plane.  Take the weight of your motor and move it back 10-12 inches and see what it does !!  Your weight is now further back than the boat transom and the motor weight gains an advantage..not a good one !!

Do you know this from empirical data or is it supposition? Sure, move a load further out on the lever changes how things interact, but let’s make a few base assumptions:

  • 3 deep cycle batteries in the bow for 195 lbs
  • Trolling motor on bow for 68 lbs
  • Tackle and gear in bow, let’s be conservative and say 50 lbs

total in bow, 313 lbs

  • Suzuki DF50 229 lbs
  • fuel at half tank, call it 60 lbs

total at transom, 289 lbs


I’m more concerned about where my 300 lbs is sitting (which is almost right at midship) and where my passenger will be (6 inches further fore than me) than I am about moving the outboard further out from the transom.

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5 hours ago, OilfieldCowboy said:

Do you know this from empirical data or is it supposition? Sure, move a load further out on the lever changes how things interact, but let’s make a few base assumptions:

  • 3 deep cycle batteries in the bow for 195 lbs
  • Trolling motor on bow for 68 lbs
  • Tackle and gear in bow, let’s be conservative and say 50 lbs

total in bow, 313 lbs

  • Suzuki DF50 229 lbs
  • fuel at half tank, call it 60 lbs

total at transom, 289 lbs


I’m more concerned about where my 300 lbs is sitting (which is almost right at midship) and where my passenger will be (6 inches further fore than me) than I am about moving the outboard further out from the transom.

I assume you aren’t running super shallow water. It might take you 400yds to get on plane and lose top speed.  Higher fuel consumption and less handling. The more it squats in the transom the harder it is to plane. The risk of taking water over the transom rises.  People are just trying to warn you of the effects it will have that are less desirable. It seems like you are dead set on doing it so do it. Let us know how it works out for you. It could not be as bad as we think or it could be worse. 
 

I am sure there is some math equation a mile long to figure this all out as well. If someone could find that it would eliminate some of the guessing.

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1 hour ago, Darnold335 said:

I assume you aren’t running super shallow water. It might take you 400yds to get on plane and lose top speed.  Higher fuel consumption and less handling. The more it squats in the transom the harder it is to plane

 

Where you finding this information?

 

I've been running jackup plates on jon boats for 40+ years, that ain't how it works. 

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@OilfieldCowboy

 

Have considered Nauticus Smart Tabs SX

 

I'm going into my ninth season with them & absolutely have no issues with em.

 

Smoother & Faster Acceleration

40% less Bow Rise & 35% Lower On Plane Speed 

More Top Speed & No Porpoising or Chine Walking

Improves Handling & Smoother Ride In Any Water

Improved Fuel Economy (11% +)

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@Catt, I had not looked at trim tabs currently. The primary driver is less about getting on step and more about transom mount transducer compatibility. Worst case scenario will be me installing a hull mount system somehow this winter, but not sure how to go about doing that with an aluminum boat.

 

those tabs do look slick though.

 

thank you for all of the replies, I need to look more at my setup and see what compromises I’m willing to make since there is no such thing as a perfect solution.

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48 minutes ago, OilfieldCowboy said:

The primary driver is less about getting on step and more about transom mount transducer compatibility

 

Mine is mounted on the transom, now it ain't side imaging. 

 

I'm running a Alweld 1652VJT

16' length 52" bottom with a Tohatsu 40 hp

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