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08-04-2005, 6:12 PM spongebob Joined on 06-25-2005 Posts 13 Jack Plates Does anyone have experience with using jack plates on a Cat.  I am very interested in trying them out, but would like to know if anyone has done this before spending the money and modifying my boat. Thanks.    Report

08-11-2005, 1:14 PM The BEAST Joined on 07-26-2005 Miami, Florida Posts 100 Re: Jack Plates spongebob, I have seriously considered it, over and over .   I know that if nothing else it will allow me to raise my motors well above water line while docked in the slip.  The idea of being able to keep a good trim setting yet raising the motors for less drag is very intriguing to me.  I just can't quite swallow the $1500+ to be the first to try it.  It's a major chunk of change.  If it works it would be well worth it but if it doesn't it would be a costly dockage feature. Capt. Jim The BEAST 2007 WorldCat 330 TE / 300 Suzuki's    Report

08-12-2005, 5:22 PM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Jack Plates I think I am going to be the first one then.  I will probably have the boat in Florida over the winter so we will have to find a way to get together so I can show you the results. Greg "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

09-21-2005, 8:25 AM Harry Brosofsky Joined on 09-21-2005 Posts 29 Re: Jack Plates I've seen a picture of a 330TE with jackplates, but can't find the site where I saw it.  Aside from the benefits of reducing drag and keeping the motors well out of the water at the dock, another benefit is moving the props into cleaner water due to the setback.  I too have considered jackplates and if I get them at some point, I will most likely get the CMC 10" set back model.  The farther back the props run, the cleaner the water they run in, meaning they can be run higher because they run mmore efficiently in undisturbed water. Harry Worldcat 330TE w/Zuke DF250s    Report

09-21-2005, 8:42 AM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Jack Plates Harry, As you can see, I am obviously watching the site closely right now. Good point about the set back. I have decided I am going to have the CMC plates installed this winter when I take the boat down to Florida.  My only concern about the 10" model is balance.  Do you think it would in any way have negative effect on the balance of the boat?  The center of gravity will obviously move backward. Greg    "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

09-21-2005, 9:08 AM Harry Brosofsky Joined on 09-21-2005 Posts 29 Re: Jack Plates Greg, I'm not an expert on your boat, but I don't thik an additional 5" will make a big difference in the balance.  As an example, if your wife is standing at the bow and walks aft while you are running, does it effect the balance very much?  I'm guessing it doesn't.  Moving the motors back 10" should effect the balance less than your 110 lb wife moving from the bow to the stern. On my boat, moving the motors back 10" would not hurt the balance.  In fact, it should allow the bows to be raised up a bit more when running down swell (a good thing) and it should not effect the ability to bring the bows down very much.  I could always rearrange some of my gear to compensate as well. Harry Worldcat 330TE w/Zuke DF250s    Report

09-21-2005, 4:08 PM Capt. JohnE Joined on 09-21-2005 Posts 3 Re: Jack Plates Greg: I'm not sure what type of Cat you are running but before I put them on the GB or any Cat I would call the factory and get their opinion. I know GB would be very helpful with a concern like this. Good Luck and let us know how you make out. Capt. JohnE 260 GB Canyon Runner      Report

09-29-2005, 10:21 PM The BEAST Joined on 07-26-2005 Miami, Florida Posts 100 Re: Jack Plates gseiber, My '98 266SF was a bit on the aft heavy side.  When 3 guys would be working the bait fish in the rear of the boat my splashwells would dip water frequently.  Remember, the 266 SF had the livewell in the bait station console midship not 2 in the rear as the 270 TE does. The 5.5" setback would be the only one I would consider for the 27 model WorldCats.  I think the 10" might be a bit too drastic of a weight shift.  Harry,  Lets get some testing done on the 5.5" setback first before we proceed with the theory that more is better.  More can also turn into more problems.  These aren't  high speed bass boats.  I would rather be a bit more conservative than to go all the way and be way out of the park in foul territory.  I'll probably make that call you recommended and see if we can work out a deal.  Worth a try.   Capt. Jim The BEAST 2007 WorldCat 330 TE / 300 Suzuki's    Report

10-10-2005, 8:08 PM SeaCatMich Joined on 10-10-2005 Posts 1 Re: Jack Plates When I bought my '96 SeaCat SL1 I wanted 4 stroke outboards.  Due to the extra weight of the 4 strokes compared to comparable 2 strokes, the dealer suggested putting 4" setback CMC manual jack plates on with the Honda 90 hp engines.  This allowed the engines to be raised a few inches and be up out of the water.  The boat was still stern heavy -- to the point that the floor drains were under water and water often would come up into the cockpit area from the splash well.  Solution ended up being to move Moved the batteries from the compartments under the two jump seats in the stern corners to under the console.  This has resulted in the boat sitting nearly level -- still a little stern heavy, but not bad.  Performance is very good and when tilted up, the engines only have a very small part of the skeg in the water.  I think that the engines could still be raised a bit and even get the skegs aboe water, but have not tried it.  According to the dealer, the 4" backset acually has improved the handling and performance of the hull.  Since mine is the only SeaCat I have ever been in, I can't confirm this. Ryan    Report

10-11-2005, 5:28 PM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Jack Plates Ryan, There has been a lot of talk about these jack plates and not only on this forum.  I am going to get some this winter.  I am glad it is working out for you. Be careful about the water intakes for the cooling system.  I have read some threads indicating that this can be a problem if you raise the jack plates too high. Greg "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

10-11-2005, 9:55 PM CapedCat Joined on 09-27-2005 Cape Coral, Florida Posts 2 Re: Jack Plates I have jack plates on my 250SF.  They have add 5-6" of offset.  My reason was to enhance the shallow water use of my boat.  So far, I haven't had clean enough water to set the tilt/throttles and try different levels and check the RPM/speed based on solely that change.  They are VERY HANDY for shallow water and save me quite a bit of time getting to open water.  I can take a "shortcut" that cuts off a big loop from my in/out of my canal.  I've also had a number of V-Hulls see me and (since a WC looks like it might draw quite a bit of water) take off following me only to make a quick reverse of engines.   Jim North Cape Coral, Florida CC    Report

10-16-2005, 10:10 AM conehead39 Joined on 10-16-2005 Islamorada,FL Posts 6 Re: Jack Plates Harry, Who has a 110 lb wife??? WCC 330 TE , 250 YamFS, fully oper tower w yam controls, Command link,Garmin 3010C w Sat Wx,DSM depth and Furuno 582L. airmar thru hull TDs , B117s. Simrad AP 16 is excellent.    Report

10-16-2005, 9:01 PM firstafence Joined on 10-16-2005 tallahassee fl Posts 1 Re: Jack Plates Harry:  something else to consider with the engines mounted farther back is that your transducer may work better with less chance of  lower unit or propeller noise.  Mark    Report

10-17-2005, 8:31 AM conehead39 Joined on 10-16-2005 Islamorada,FL Posts 6 Re: Jack Plates Recently saw a DETWILER jack plate on a fast back country 19 foot cat at Sherman marine in Marathon,FL.It looked high quality. He said he was a boat dealer from above Detroit,MI., however he said he thinks that Mercury was buying Detwiler....He is no fan of Mercury ,though. ....He has a winter place down here. WCC 330 TE , 250 YamFS, fully oper tower w yam controls, Command link,Garmin 3010C w Sat Wx,DSM depth and Furuno 582L. airmar thru hull TDs , B117s. Simrad AP 16 is excellent.    Report

04-14-2006, 11:33 AM GreenGrunt Joined on 04-14-2006 Posts 2 Re: Jack Plates Gents, Please see http://www.bobsmachine.com/, Bob's Machine, of Ruskin, Florida is the undisputed expert when it comes to jack plates.  They also have a "Bigfoot Nose Cone" to allow for water cooling when the engines are jacked up. Ruskin is on the Little Manatee River where it enters Tampa Bay.  There is plenty of skinny water between the bay and upriver (where I live, its about 5 miles to the river's mouth).  Claiborne Young, in his cruising guide, had to give Ruskin a pass because of the shallows.  With Bob's jack plates and the improved lower end water pickups, just about anyone with 18 inch draft or less can get up the river to fish snook and juvie tarpon. Butch Lusting for a 270 TE    Report

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