BayCat JackPlate Question

This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 1 month ago by bcjigginjoe.

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May 10, 2009 at 2:29 am #458934

BayCat43
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03 BayCat with 225 Opti. Recently added a 6″ Manual JackPlate that I bought from BCB. Noticed that with a moderate to heavy load the bow of boat feels real lite and boat wants to hop, esp when in a light chop. Kinda aggravating and it never did that before I added the plate and I am now questioning taking the plate off. Lowered plate to right just above stock engine height but now the Hyd Steering cylinder will hit the top of the transom when I trim the engine way up (like in shallow water or on trailor). Any suggestions.. I could run it the way it is but I am nervous that one day I will be redfishing and trim the motor up and break off a steering fitting on Hyd cylinder. Any suggestions will help. Thanks

May 10, 2009 at 2:53 am #458935

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

1. Have a tilt/trim limit installed. 2. Install a hydraulic jack plate. 3. Try redistributing you load to other areas of the boat to take some of the porposing out. Also use your tilt/trim and throttle to help eliminate as well.

May 10, 2009 at 3:00 am #458936

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Propeller?

May 10, 2009 at 3:33 am #458937

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

I am drawing a blank on the prop but I think 23P Mirage, will look and repost. With 4 people, 2 sitting front of console and 2 on the lean too and trimmed all the way down boat wants to hop at low speeds. I can throttle and trim a little bit and get rid of it but in a chop it makes for a harsh ride and the at low speeds hop is apparent. My brother has a Cougar and he was with me in a chop and yelled trim it down, but it is trimmed all the way down. In a chop it just doesnt feel like it rides as good as it did before I put the plate on. I have not run it since I lowered the plate but the fitting problem is there.

May 10, 2009 at 3:37 am #458938

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

The Mirage is a good wheel and there are others we have run. Though the propeller is the issue with the plate. Your back to square one and the offset changed the surface bite of the blades. We are not ourselves that knowledgeable on the Bay Cat and set up. Ivan and Rick may have to handle this one. Rick has more time in one and varied propellers. He is probably the best answer on this.

May 11, 2009 at 8:28 pm #458939

BayCat43
Participant

Yep it is a 23P Mirage plus..

May 11, 2009 at 8:44 pm #458940

oldtimer57
Participant

The jack plate moves the center of gravity rearward, which makes it easier to lift the bow. And there is not much you can do about it if you move the CG too far aft. The hull is going to porpoise until you reach a speed where the drag from the hull and thrust from the motor are the major forces in play. Ive seen more than a few bass boats where someone went way too far with the setback, and got the boat to the point where when you back off the throttle from 50+, it is going to porpoise as it slows down and comes off plane, or it will porpoise at cruise unless the motor is trimmed down enough to hold the bow down against the gravity force that is trying to pull the rear of the boat down, making the bow rise. If it was better before you installed the plate, the obvious solution is to remove it… Some boats just dont need one.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200

May 11, 2009 at 11:45 pm #458941

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

My Baycat has the 23 Mirage Plus on it…I have an 8″ hydro jackplate. I dont seem to get any hopping at all with mine. Of course I can raise and lower the engine on the fly too.

May 12, 2009 at 5:25 am #458942

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

Bravo, Mirage, and more… Propeller and height are variables we have found on Bay Cat models. Try lowering it if you can to gain some bite there. We also have run the Revolution on some rigs.

May 12, 2009 at 8:33 am #458943

bcjigginjoe
Participant

Was waiting to see if this topic came up. My rig, 2009 Baycat, 250 Etec HO, Detwiler Hyd. Plate, 24 pitch Raker prop, trimmed all the way down with the jackplate buried all the way down, tends to hop and porpoise at slow to medium speeds. (3000–3500 rpms) I can move my motor down another hole on the jackplate but, was also considering trying one of the Merc props. PS Any thoughts, suggestions, pros, cons on trim tabs?Last edited by bcjigginjoe on May 12th, 2009, 12:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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