Topic: Power Life Hydralic Lift – Do I have a problem

This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 8 months ago by Bass Cat Boats.

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October 5, 2009 at 1:46 am #327343

Anthony Wheeler
Participant

I was in rough water Friday due to the wind and I notice the motor sliding up and down when cresting over the waves at slow speeds. When I decided to just go and ride the top of the waves, I did not notice any up and down movement of the motor. I will admit I was too busy trying to keep my rear off the seat, if you know what I mean, to be looking back at the motor! The jack plate is working, it does hold its position and does not appear to slowly bleed down or anything, but I have never noticed this before. I usually do not go out in rough water (meaning 3 to 4 foot waves to me) so it may have always been this way. I also checked the bolts and everything appears to be tight. Thoughts? Thanks.

October 5, 2009 at 2:41 am #327366

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

The plate would only have a minute amount of travel from the hydraulics. This we assume is an older CMC hydraulic plate. These were prone to different issues, and we saw problems with the electric pumps and other items. The plates worked well unless they were wet inside the electric motors. The rails were possible to mushroom, which is why we suggested they revisit the original 1/2″ thickness designed. The rails have front and rear travel when they mushroom. We were not satisfied with the end result of the thicker plate angle frame, and thus switched to R & R and then eventually Detwiler and Bobs, with only Detwiler on bass models now. We dont know about the travel as we would almost have to see it to understand it. BCB

October 5, 2009 at 3:11 am #327385

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

The boat is a 2000 model Cougar and I think this is the original jack plate. The motor (225 Opti) does have the hydrofoil fins on it, it was that way when I bought it years ago, and I have just left it on. When I say movement, the way I would describe it is as the boat would crest a wave at slow speed, like 20 mph, I would then feel the motor bump after the boat started down the wave. When I would watch the motor, I would see it dropping very slightly like it was floating down on the plate, almost like it was falling back to the bottom of the where the plate was set at that time. I am wondering if the fins are causing the motor to not stay on the bottom of where the jack is at that moment, but with the motor being so heavy, I cannot imagine that would be the case. Everything works normally, so I am not sure if I have a problem or not. That is why I wanted to see if anyone else had ever noticed this before. Thanks.

October 5, 2009 at 3:32 am #327403

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

The weights of the Opti engines and such were what we saw mushrooming of the frames with. We think you look at the bronze bushing in the notches and you will see where the bronze has worn the aluminum and you have a wider gap than the bushing and perhaps even the mushrooming. This is what we think you may be seeing travel. Though the fin also adds a lot of pressure from water pressure. It could be moving the plate around. A 2000 model engine was not known for torque on an Opti, so you may want to leave the fin or go to a Fury. BCB
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