jack plate issues

Nitro_fisher84 · April 23, 2013, 01:24:29 PM

I have a 99 nitro nx882 with a 99 opti150 and it has a funny jack plate on it. I understood that jack plates helped with hole shot but mine is a dog. Its got a 21degree stainless prop as well and when i floor it it doesnt take off like expected. It i just got it in the winter and had it out for the first time last weekend. It runs great and rpms arent over 6000 but it really drags ass on hole shot. She gets up to 60mph no prob and doesnt miss or anythin and the skeg plate is perfectly an inch above the water. Im confused and am wondering if last owner put it on for looks. It does really hold turns great and no cavitation on powering around turns. Im uncertain if hole shot loss is a trade for extra stability. The transom has the undercut thing goin on. Just wanted some advice cuz its my first bass boat and dont know who to talk to. Id like to take it off and try it without but i just dont get the sluggish hole shot for that size of motor and pitch of prop

BassBUFF · April 23, 2013, 04:20:02 PM

What is the distance of the propshaft to the pad (very bottom of the boat)? Sounds like it may be too low in the water.

Mike Cork · April 23, 2013, 04:43:07 PM

First, Jack plates are for over all performance not just hole shot. In fact most adjust a manual jack plate for top end performance versus hole shot. If you are hearing someone talk about a jack plate increasing hole shot it's probably a hydraulic plate and they lower the motor for take off and then raise it as they get on pad to the optimum performance position.

Prop sounds about right and if your RPM's are below six you're good there.

Prop shaft to pad distance well tell us what you need to do. Moving up or down will change your hole shot and top end performance.

Please verify that you do have the motor trimmed all the way down before trying to take off?

Nitro_fisher84 · April 23, 2013, 04:54:57 PM

Ill have to check when i get home. May explain why when i do hit it the top of the motoris almost in the water

Nitro_fisher84 · April 23, 2013, 05:05:09 PM

Yes it is trimmed all the way down and in fact the plate has trim adjustment to give it more downward trim. I will check distance. Thanks alot this is my first time askin for real help. Not from my lnlw it all friends. It doed really hold well in turning but if its too low why is that plate in the rite spot while on plane? Maby theres too much boat still in the water as well, its a funny set up to me bit its on there and if its gonna help all around ill keep it on

Mike Cork · April 23, 2013, 06:06:33 PM

Do you have a hydraulic jack plate?

Nitro_fisher84 · April 23, 2013, 07:34:11 PM

5 and a quarter inches

Nitro_fisher84 · April 23, 2013, 09:31:46 PM

No its not hydraulic. Its a crap load of bolts. The mounting angle of the motor and the transom r pretty close but a bit tighter angle. The measurement was with motor level with hull. Ive got another 5 to 6 inches up and down fora adjustment

BassBUFF · April 24, 2013, 04:23:51 AM

If it's 5" below the pad it is WAY too low. A good overall starting point is 3.5". Can yyou get a picture of your JP? Be nice to make sure we're all on the same sheet of music.

Mike Cork · April 24, 2013, 08:06:12 AM

That's way low. I'm with BassBUFF you need to come up to at least 4 with most boats running 3 something.

Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 08:13:20 AM

Copy that boys, thanks for you help. Ill get some pics up later tonight, this is very helpful.

Mike Cork · April 24, 2013, 08:13:56 AM

Pic's will be cool

Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 08:22:45 AM

This is pretty awesome! I never knew this kind of stuff existed

Mike Cork · April 24, 2013, 08:24:14 AM

Quote from: Nitro_fisher84 on April 24, 2013, 08:22:45 AM
This is pretty awesome! I never knew this kind of stuff existed

You mean a place to get help? We love to and it's everything from loading fishing line to a rod, to how to work a new bait, to getting your boat set up correctly

Fun stuff

Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 08:48:31 AM

What would be the safest way to lift that motor? By mysel.lol

Mike Cork · April 24, 2013, 09:00:47 AM

Get us some photo's first so that we can help with that. Many jack plates have a system in place to help. Those that don't, there are a couple ways to do it. The best is to go rent a cherry picker and take the cowling off, then lift the motor with the lift points provided in you manual. If that's not an option..... place a jack under the foot. Loosen all the plate bolts and then jack it up. The problem with that is you'll have to have someone slightly shaking the motor back and forth so that it will move easily. Another way to do it is to use the leverage of the trailer. If you want to go up. Trim the motor all the way down and place wood under it until it's resting on the wood. Next go to the trailer tongue jack and jack the tongue up, this will put pressure on the foot and raise the motor. The problem with this second process is it can really put a bind on the angle of the motor. With both you have to be careful and not put to much pressure on the skag as it can snap.

Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 11:23:07 AM

Copy that, will have some pics for tonight. Cherrry picker sounds safest.

Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 07:13:35 PM

It wont let me send pics. How do i make file smaller?

Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 07:24:30 PM

Number one

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Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 07:26:36 PM

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Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 07:39:13 PM

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Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 07:41:02 PM

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Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 07:45:06 PM

One more i hope

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Nitro_fisher84 · April 24, 2013, 08:15:29 PM

Gotter figured out, hope im gonna be ok and its doable for this application. I hope by raising is by two inches she will still hold onto her in the sharp turning

Mike Cork · April 25, 2013, 08:48:27 AM

That looks like just a set back versus a jack plate. From what I see you're going to have to lift the motor bracket where it bolts to the set back plate, in order to raise the motor. Which is fine.

I hate to see you raise it a full two inched the first time. I realize that raising and lowering is not going to be easy on that, but smaller increments would be wiser. If you happen to live close to water or can set up to make adjustments at the ramp would be best. Move 1/2 inch then test and move again. It's a long process but by moving two inches at a shot, that's a lot.

From the normal settings that we are used to seeing yours is way low, odds are that you could bump it up 2 inches and be fine. However there may be a reason the previous owner had it set where it's at?