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Danlt.
After four bass boats, if you include my first aluminum, I purchased a new Cougar in 2000 from Mike Van Wagner at my local Ca. Cat dealership Galaxie Marine. I was proud to own that boat until 2006 when my second son was born. I remember the day that I was going to start pre-fishing for a couple tournaments I planned to fish. I went to hook up the boat and say good-bye to my wife. My supportive wife didnt say anything, she did not have to, I knew it was time to set my passion aside, life finally caught up with me. After a year I could not stand seeing that cougar sit in the garage, so I sold it. This past summer my oldest son, now 11, asked me to take him bass fishing. It was the motivation, or excuse, I needed to buy a bass boat. We ended up purchasing a 2000 pantera classic, it was a great boat……..what can I say after owning a 20 its hard to go back down. Last month I sold it and bought a 2007 Puma with a 250 pro xs, from Mike Van Wagner, no longer at a Bass Cat dealership, but was still treated great, Had to tell my story, now on to my question.This Puma has a detwiler jack plate, I have never owned a hydraulic plate. I am looking for some suggestion on how to tune it to the boat. I have been through chine walk 101 with the cougar. I am hopping to tune it to sweet spot and leave it, or at least know where that spot is. As of know I am lost at where the height of the motor should be. Any help would be great.
Engine height is all feel on the torque, hydraulic or manual it does not change. Once you have the height figured out to run best, you really no longer need a hydraulic plate, which is why BCB does not recommend them for the average angler. On the hydraulic plate, you have the old style Detwiler we would assume. They will rebuild it while it is new, or you can keep tightening the tension bolts that run around the mast cylinder to keep them tight. They banjo string into tension and you will hear them ping when they are taught. We would grease that area also to keep them smooth on the tensioning. If you do not tighten them then you will be working on this plate doing something. BCB
My experience with the concern BBC mentioned is to not trailer with the plate at its highest point. Run it. Up then lower slightly to take the tension off. Put transom saver on, get a couple of soft clips for the hydraulic steering rams to keep the motor straight and you are good to go. I find the hydraulic plate very helpful with shallow ramps, adjusting for different props and adjusting to rough water conditions Bob
Bass Cat Boats wrote:On the hydraulic plate, you have the old style Detwiler we would assume. They will rebuild it while it is new, or you can keep tightening the tension bolts that run around the mast cylinder to keep them tight. They banjo string into tension and you will hear them ping when they are taught. We would grease that area also to keep them smooth on the tensioning. If you do not tighten them then you will be working on this plate doing something. BCBAny chance you can elaborate on the above? Will tightening the tension bolts keep the plate from being able to move, thereby turning it into a manual? If not, is there an easy way to do so, or would it require a complete jack plate swap out. I buy into your thoughts about preferring the manual JP for the average angler, but my new to me Puma has a hydraulic plate. Id just assume set it and forget it. Thanks.
Did you buy the Silver and Red boat at GF Marine? Looked like a nice boat.
Rlb8s,Its simple! See the bolts around the main stem (4) and tension those stems with a wrench (7/16), till you hear them start to ping. It does not effect operation. These are 1/4″ stem bolts which are very long for the load they are under and they stretch. That stretch allows tend caps to move and work twisting under loads changing. That travel in the cap plates allows the round o-ring seal to work out as the gap grows it is sealing, as the plates twist. This allows the o-ring to float, or blow, out under a load. The plate becomes inoperable as there is no fluid. Newer Detwilers have the Mercury 125 trim pump and are not subject to the issue, only older plates does this apply to. BCB
Would it be possible for Bass Cat or someone to post a pic of the bolt that needs to be tightned?Thank you,James
We dont have one to shoot so its up to you guys.
If there is not a pic by tomorrow, I can get a pic of my Dads older Detweiler and post it. Showing the 4 bolts.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
Funny to see this post… I just bought the other one (red/white/silver) at GF Marine. 2007 Puma and absolutely love it… As soon as I get my garage cleaned out, cant wait to see if she fits in the garage, once I figure out how the pop axle works.
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