2014 Alumacraft mv16:

[LeftCoastAngler]

I was down on the river yesterday, and noticed that the lil cols snaps weve had brought some snook into the backwater...

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

The Yamaha dealer called me yesterday...
The date on this thing is 08/14!
Shes only two months old...
It came from Seattle.
Gotta be fresh off a ship...

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

I definately need a jackplate.
I gotta get this joker up a bit

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

A 40s waaaay too big for this boat.

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

Im gonna try to stop by Bobs Machine Shop off US41 tommorrow after work to inquire which plate is best for my needs...
Luckily he's right here, in Tampa.

 

[jasper60103]

Congrats on the new motor. Enjoy!

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

Sounds like Im going with the Bobs Machine Shop VersaJac, which is a upgradable jackplate.
I will be picking it up tommorrow.
I will be able to manually adjust it up to six inches until I decide to go hydraulic.
Then its as simple as buying the pump and installing it into my existing setup.

Checkout their website... Theyve recently updated...

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

What we have here is six inches of available lift, but Ive got it set at around four inches til I get her in the water and see where were at...

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

Heres a better side shot:

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

We pulled it all off to get more of the poly-sealant inbetween the transom and the jackplate just after those last pics were taken....
I initially used a small bead, not thinking, the more the better right....
Seal it up! Oooze it out...

Cleaning up this stuff is not as easy as everyday household paintable caulk...

It does not come off you either.

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

These are what BMS (BobsMachineShop) calls "pucks", theyre perfectly made stackable, inter-locking spacers for your clamp on motors...
I also had to get a set of their stainless 1/2" bolts and washers...

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

Got the boat into the water to do a draft check...
Heres how she looks floatin with nothing in the boat at all...

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

Filled up the 6gal tank, and picked up a "starting battery", and battery case...
All this weight scares me!
Ready to rock n roll tommorrow morning.
The maiden voyage is coming!
Tommorrow begins the "break-in" time...

 

[SwampThing07]

Looks good. Grab a video if you can

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

How do you upload videos? Just like a picture? Is there a maximum length or anything?
Thx.

 

[Va Larry]

Are you sure your motor isn't to high?
Rule of thumb is cavatation plate parallel with the bottom of the hull. An inch or two above that might be fine, but yours looks well above that, hard to tell in the pics.
The last thing you want to happen is it starts to cavitate and/or overheat during break in.

 

[SwampThing07]

Thats what I was thinking. That thing is going to cavitate like crazy.

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

It did.
...and I got out there onto the water without my 1" wrench to adjust the plate!
Wrapped it up, and brought her back home....
I've since lowered it like three inches, and will give it a whirl again tommorrow...

Thx guys.

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

OhYeah.
Shes all dialed in now!

 

[LeftCoastAngler]

Got my stick anchor installed.
Went with a 10' WangPole