Jack plate on Jon boat

[Chris K]

I am looking for some input on creating a rapid moving, manual jack plate that would be mounted on a jon boat. When running a tiller (25 horse or less) in that really skinny river. Yes a jet would be best. But having the ability to jack the motor up when putsing in those nasty`s. Appears to me, would be better than tilting the motor up and losing all the thrust. Now, I may be dreaming of something that already exists. Or maybe there would be no gain.
Has anyone tried anything like this?

[Ketumba from Kenya]

How about a Go Devil surface drive? Looks unusual as all get out, but you can fly across water barely deep enough for the boat and its occupants to float in. I saw them at MW Marine, look neat.

[BGunn]

I had a "special use" 14.5' Sylvan flat bottom boat with a 50hp merc. used for running in shallow rocky water. After each trip I would have to remove the prop and hammer the dents out of it. After trying various ways (Different "lifts", and motors with tilt and trim) I found that the only way to keep the prop from the rocks was the use of a "CMC power trim and tilt" unit, with a motor WITHOUT trim, and tilt. This allows you to run the motor "unlocked" in the foward gear, yet you are still able to trim the motor for use in shallow water. This unit also gave me some setback on the motor, and better control of the boat at full speed. I got mine thru Cabela's. Here's a link (If it works)

http://www.cabelas.com/texis/scripts/store/+/CatalogDisplay/displayPOD/CabFALL1998/CabFALL1998AUASAD/IB248P

[Roscoe]

On my last duck hunting trip to Arkansas I noticed a number of guys that had such a jackplate as you describe. Seemed to work great in the flooded timber. I thought one I saw was a cmc, but now am not sure. They do exist though. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Backwater Eddy]

Your best option may be a jet drive outboard?

The power trim is a great idea but the reaction time factor is a issue. OH look...THUD! #$^%#

Rock Hopper motor guards, also listed in Cabela's, has a few options that help prevent the damage caused from dead heads and rocks. I use one on the Red and find it very helpful. I run a lot of rocky water in less than 4 ft. so props are a factor for me too. The jet is the overall best option and I soon plan to switch over.

I have talked with a lot of cat guiges who run rivers and they all say, go jet if you can.

Backwater Eddy

[BGunn]

I believe that jets are the best option also, but there are 2 bad things about them.
1)converted outboards suffer a 30% loss of hp.
2)I looked at a new jet boat that a guy was promoting. He and his Co. were from Pennsylvania, where they run the Susquahanna River. I noticed that one of the yokes on his 90hp outboard (jet converted) was welded, and the other was kinda new looking. I asked him what happened to his motor, and he told me.
I don't know if you have ever seen the Susquahanna, but it is shallow, fast in some spots, and full of rocks. He was running full speed one day, and all of a sudden seen some rocks ahead. His "pucker factor" was up to about a full rating of 10, so by instinct, he thru the motor in full reverse. Unlike a regular motor that has to deal with gears and such, the jet only has to turn the diverting plates in front of the jet stream of water for instant full reverse. After a LOUD noise, and almost getting thrown from the seat, he turned to see his 90 dangeling off the transom by the control cables! I guess that around 120hp of instant reverse was a little more than the yokes could handle! He told me he was trying to figure out how to put an interlock on his controls, so you couldn't go directly from full foward, to full reverse!