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Several weeks ago when finding out my Detwiler plate had failed and needed replacing on my 08 Puma, I consulted on this forum asking input on which plate to go with. From that info from Phil and many others I decided to purchase the BCB Atlas plate which I was told would align with the 6 hole design of my previous Detwiler plate. It arrived and I brought to installer and it did not line up. I had questioned on this forum when it arrived that my old Detwiler measured 7″ from transom to back of plate (horizontally), but the Atlas arrived in a box that said 10″ plate. I was told that only the 8″ version was stocked and that had to be the right one. The installer never contacted me about the holes not aligning until after install. The installer had to drill the top two holes on the plate (extend or widen a bit) to align to be mounted, and the two bottom holes lined up, but the two middle holes did not and he mounted the plate with only four holes bolted. I am disappointed to know I chose the BCB plate so the holes would line up and didnt and I am concerned about the integrity of the new plate. I need to know two things: 1) Are the four bolts with internal structural plates going to be enough to suffice for use? 2) What should be the engine height on the new plate as far as the holes on the J brackets on motor? It seems to have been installed too high. The motor is installed on the third hole down from the top on the J bracket. It appeared, by old wear marks, that the old Detwiler had been in the second hole. The top of the new plate is approximately 1 3/8″ below top level of transom on boat. At the plates lowest setting I can get on plane and have 12 psi but as I start to raise the plate my water pressure drops. It seems I am losing the “travel motion” of the plate ( as I used to in rough water and turns go down with plate, and while running raise as needed and with safe water pressure.What seemed to be at the start a relatively minor problem (as I had years ago changed out an older Detwiler with a new one myself) but this time ended up being a major disappointment and I have lost tons of time on the water and dispensed with oodles of cash too without being much closer to a final fix. Any help would be appreciated!!!!
Id go talk the installer about the installation. The top 4 holes of the jackplate should be standard bolt pattern with only the bottom 2 being bcb design. Either the jack plate was a defect to begin with or the installer is clueless. By the way your jack plate should ha e been a 4 inch setback plate with a 4 inch jack plate. Easy to tell what you have with a tape measure.
Dude. Opinions here are free and you get what u pay for in life. Just cause your installer decided to wander off the reservation on this one aint anyones fault here. If i ordered a part that was supposed to fit existing holes and homey went to drillin cause it didnt fit Id expect a call first.C.O.D. Jr. III
We obviously have only used one bolt pattern. We have received and seen bolt patterns come in drilled wrong and we definitely address those. We drill to template and the plates match. Not sure what course of direction you have now. BCB
Phil,I may have mis-stated what the installer told me as far as which holes, but he has been a certified Mercury mechanic for over 30 years, and has built and raced boats himself so his credibility is good. I would go with your idea that the plate was a defect. I am not sure what you mean about my old plate being 4″? I measured plate to be front to back around 7″. I may be not measuring properly. After going out into the garage and looking at the plate, Phil, the two holes the installer avoided and couldnt mount were the two middle holes. So he used top two and bottom two of existing 6. I had talked with Seastar about the re-designed Detwiler, but decided to stay home with BCB and getting the plate from them to avoid what happened. I assume the bolt pattern on boat was right (my 2nd Puma and Detwiler plate). I am somewhat isolated from a local dealer (closest 21/2 to 3 hours away), and the dealer I got the boat from was a different one and is out of business. I agree with Dr. DRE that the installer should have called me. I never intended with this post to cast any negative toward BCB, as I have learned the plate could have been a bad apple, but I still have a situation I need to resolve and a boat I need to use in my fishing guide business.BCB, if the plate was defective or drilled wrong is there a fix for this situation through my distant dealer? Whether drilled by installer or not, if the original plate wasnt right can you address? The good news is at least the boat wasnt drilled!As far as my questions above any feedback? Is current install strong? Recommended engine height to be able to fully use plate range?
IcehawkVT wrote:Phil,I may have mis-stated what the installer told me as far as which holes, but he has been a certified Mercury mechanic for over 30 years, and has built and raced boats himself so his credibility is good. I would go with your idea that the plate was a defect. I am not sure what you mean about my old plate being 4″? I measured plate to be front to back around 7″. I may be not measuring properly. After going out into the garage and looking at the plate, Phil, the two holes the installer avoided and couldnt mount were the two middle holes. So he used top two and bottom two of existing 6. I had talked with Seastar about the re-designed Detwiler, but decided to stay home with BCB and getting the plate from them to avoid what happened. I assume the bolt pattern on boat was right (my 2nd Puma and Detwiler plate). I am somewhat isolated from a local dealer (closest 21/2 to 3 hours away), and the dealer I got the boat from was a different one and is out of business. I agree with Dr. DRE that the installer should have called me. I never intended with this post to cast any negative toward BCB, as I have learned the plate could have been a bad apple, but I still have a situation I need to resolve and a boat I need to use in my fishing guide business.BCB, if the plate was defective or drilled wrong is there a fix for this situation through my distant dealer? Whether drilled by installer or not, if the original plate wasnt right can you address? The good news is at least the boat wasnt drilled!As far as my questions above any feedback? Is current install strong? Recommended engine height to be able to fully use plate range?Your Detwiler 8″ plate measured more like 7 3/8″. Your new 8″ Atlas is really a 4″ jack plate on a 4″ setback plate. You can drill holes that match up with the holes in your boat and likely will not hurt a thing. And regardless how long your guy has been in business and his qualifications, he should have picked up the phone and called to tell you the plate was not a fit. Since he only used 4 holes, what did he do about the two holes in the transom? If the plate was a defect, Im sure Atlas or whereever you bought the plate will make it good. Though all you need is the setback plate. Not the jack plate (expensive part). On top of that, your installer should do the job right and and there should be no charges for changing it out.
Thank you for your feedback Phil, as always. I bought the Atlas from BCB which is their custom 6 bolt vs. Atlas normal 4. I agree that the installer should have called me, as I mentioned earlier. The holes, I assume based on color of holes on inside of boat transom, were filled in with the black sealant I purchased when I bought the plate. It is mounted on boat now but motor is, I think too high based on my short first trip out ( third hole down from top of J bracket on motor). I can go on plane with plate all the way down but when I start to raise it I go below 12lbs water psi..If BCB will work with me if plate is defective, I may forego original installer and travel the 3 hour trip to my closest BCB dealer to have them change it out. These problems can create stress especially like in my case when losing quite a bit of business while down. I appreciate your help.
T-H MARINE IS AS GOOD AT CUSTOMER SERVICE AS BCB IS. HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD ATLAS THAT T-H REPLACED THE MOUNTING PLATE FOR THE MOTOR BECAUSE THE UHMW RODS HAD SOME WARE. NO CHARGE OR SHIPPING.
Thank you for the feedback on your experience Mark. Much appreciated.
If the plate is slotted to fit the hull bolt pattern, then the oly issues you have are insuring a bolt seal on the transom, in our opinion.
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