5 or 10 inch jack plate?

[ross]

what do you gain by a 10 inch jack plate instead of a 5 inch??

 

[smallblockford]

1) leverage to get the bow up more
2) ability to lift the bullet of the drive up higher and get good water
3) and more strain on a transom

helps performance alot if set up properly, not always good for sking though

 

[smallblockford]

if you own a 21 i would do the 10 inch what boat and moter you running

 

[ross]

its a '87 starflite with a 200 merc that is also a '87

 

[BullittBen]

Most Starflights around here are running at least 10"....with a 2.4 or 2.5 200, you need more than that. Look at this post and you'll see...

http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6850&highlight=starflight

You probably need 10-15" depending on what you want to do. If you want to ski, 10" may be better for holeshot. If you want top speed - you'll want more like 15".

 

[ross]

the sites that i've seen the bigest power lift is a 10 do they make a different bracket that bolts up to a 5.5 to bring it out to 15? also how do i know that the transom will hold it?

 

[JW]

You'll know whether the transom will hold the setback after you run it all season and the stress cracks in the corners either get worse or dont get worse. In other words, it all depends on too many unknowns to know until it cracks. Then it's too late.

 

[smallblockford]

your transom can handle it in the water, it is when you trailer it with out transom savers or leave em sit with out them down or on a saver .

i like 10 inchers but highly recomend transom savers on the trailers(bar from trailer to the moter takes the bounce out of it when trailering and saves the transom)

 

[175checkmate]

I second the transom savers. It amazing how well something so simple works.

 

[F150GT]

Every outboard should have a transome saver. Its a must.
On a starflight with a light Merc you will want 10", works well all around. Add more for speed but it will increase low speed porpising.
Get rid of the wet foam in the bow also or at least drill a hole in the bottom of the front bulkhead to let the water out.

 

[smallblockford]

Every outboard should have a transome saver. Its a must.
On a starflight with a light Merc you will want 10", works well all around. Add more for speed but it will increase low speed porpising.
Get rid of the wet foam in the bow also or at least drill a hole in the bottom of the front bulkhead to let the water out.

this also made me think dont forget how easy it is to make a saver can be done eaisy

 

[ross]

this might sound stupid!-but how would i go about letting the water out of the bulkhead? i'm still very new to this! thanx for all the help!

 

[F150GT]

In the front of the play pen under the deck there is a false wall, the front 3' is filled with floatation. about an inch or two up from the bottom drill a hole into the bulkhead (forward not down, never hurts to be too clear)You want about a 1" hole to let any water out and not get pluged by debris.

 

[merc245]

Or you can opted to remove the foam all to gether.If it is soaked it will be close to a 100 lbs of weight at your bow.A real speed killer.