Bob'S Machine

Bob's Machine Shop: The Original Hydraulic Jack Plate Since 1978

Few brands in the marine performance world can claim the kind of heritage that Bob's Machine Shop carries. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Bob's Machine Shop set the standard for outboard motor positioning technology, earning recognition as the originator of the hydraulic jack plate. While plenty of competitors have entered the space over the decades, Bob's Machine has remained singularly focused — jack plates are not simply one product among many, but the very core of everything they do.

That laser focus has paid off in real-world results. Bob's Machine Shop jack plates are engineered to improve an outboard boat's speed, hole shot, fuel efficiency, and ability to navigate shallow water — all from one transom-mounted device. By allowing precise vertical adjustment of the outboard motor, a quality jack plate can transform a boat's performance profile across a wide range of conditions. Bob's Machine offers their jack plates in multiple series — including the Standard Series, the innovative Action Series (with its internal pump design), and the patent-pending Versa Jac — to cover everything from small kicker motors all the way up to high-horsepower performance rigs.

One of the brand's most celebrated engineering decisions is their one-piece setback design. Unlike competitors that rely on spacers to achieve the desired setback, Bob's Machine jack plates are built as a single integrated unit, available in 4", 6", 8", 10", 12", and 14" setbacks. All models are constructed from aluminum and stainless steel for long-term corrosion resistance, and the brand backs their structures with a limited lifetime warranty to the original end user, along with a five-year warranty on hydraulic pump motors.

Beyond jack plates, Bob's Machine Shop addresses the full picture of outboard motor control. Their trim and tilt units bring hydraulic convenience to smaller outboard owners who don't have factory tilt and trim — a practical upgrade that improves handling, reduces ramp hassle, and lets skippers dial in their running angle on the fly. The brand also produces the innovative Tilt & Jac combo unit, a patented design that functions simultaneously as both a tilt-and-trim system and a jack plate from a single hydraulic pump.

Rounding out the lineup, Bob's Machine Shop produces mounting hardware and a wide array of marine accessories — from rigging components and electronics to trailer accessories and lower unit performance parts. Everything the brand builds reflects a commitment to American craftsmanship: all products are made in the USA, a point of pride that runs deep in the company's culture.

Whether you're a weekend angler looking to gain a few inches of motor height for shallow-water access, or a tournament fisherman chasing every tenth of a second off the line, Bob's Machine Shop has a solution designed and proven on the water.