Jack Plates

Precision Control for Every Water Condition

A jack plate is a mounting system installed between the boat's transom and the outboard motor, allowing the engine to be raised or lowered vertically, fundamentally changing how your boat interacts with the water. Adjusting engine height can improve speed, handling, fuel efficiency, and overall boat performance. For performance boaters, tournament anglers, and anyone navigating variable depth environments, jack plates represent one of the most effective upgrades you can make to your outboard-powered vessel.

Setback is how far the jack plate extends past the transom—the more setback you have, the more leverage the motor will have on the boat, helping raise the bow out of the water. Setback also positions the prop or jet away from turbulent water coming off the hull, which can help with performance. The vertical adjustment capability extends beyond your tilt and trim range, giving you additional inches of lift that prove critical when running skinny water or dialing in optimal prop depth for maximum efficiency.

Manual vs. Hydraulic: Choosing Your System

There are different types of outboard jack plates on the market, including hydraulic jack plates, which allow you to adjust your engine's position on the go, and manual jack plates, which require a few hand tools and elbow grease in order to make adjustments. A hydraulic jack can be adjusted on the fly, going deep in the water to help you get a good hole shot, then raising up for optimum performance once you're underway. This real-time adjustability makes hydraulic systems ideal for anglers transitioning between deep channels and shallow flats, or performance boaters seeking to maximize speed across varying conditions.

Manual plates are cheaper than hydraulic plates, and they work well if your main concern is finding the best position your engine works in and locking it down, though they can be adjusted on the water but require more effort and may be time consuming to adjust. The choice between manual and hydraulic often comes down to how frequently you need adjustment capability and your budget constraints.

Top Brands in Jack Plate Technology

T-H Marine stands as the top jack plate manufacturer in the marine industry, offering their acclaimed ATLAS hydraulic line that features seamless lifting action and reliability for heavy outboard engines. Their systems include a self-contained hydraulic system built directly into the plate with no separate pumps or reservoirs to mount inside the boat, resulting in a cleaner installation and fast operation.

Bob's Machine has earned its reputation with the original hydraulic jack plate since 1978, offering both their Action Series with a motor stronger than any other internal jack plate on the market currently and their proven Standard Series that features lifetime structure warranty to original end user, and 5 year warranty on pump.

Seastar Solutions brings decades of marine hydraulic expertise to their jack plate offerings, providing reliable systems known for precision engineering and durability in demanding saltwater environments.

Cook Mfg. rounds out the leading manufacturers with quality manual and hydraulic options designed for recreational and performance boating applications.

Selecting the Right Setback

For boats 20' and longer, use a 10" jack plate; for boats just under 20' long, use a 6" or 8" jack plate; for boats under 18' long, use a 4" jack plate. There is no set rule of thumb for how much setback you need for your boat—it all depends on how much bow lift you need and how far you need to move the motor to push through clean water as well as any clearance you may need. Consult your boat manufacturer's recommendations when available, as hull design significantly influences optimal setback distance.