Mount old jack plate or not?

[Brush hog Billy]

Hello all, I know this probably isn't the right forum but I just wanted some opinions. I have an older bass rig I'm restoring for this season and had to take the motor off to give my transom some love ( whole nother topic) . Anyway I have an old discontinued cmc powerlift jack plate that is new to me but apparently does work, just needs switch hooked up and possibly some hydraulic fluid added?? My question is since I've heard nothing but bad reviews on this lift should I just mount the motor without it on or is it worth the possible problems to stick with it? The motor is underated for the size boat so will i see a benefit anyways?

[jarhead175]

Nothing but bad reviews? And your still thinking about it.....

[bluebullet96]

I'd put it on till it breaks! It's free!

[Brush hog Billy]

Well that's one for and one against

[5keepers2]

If your planning on keeping boat fixed it right.
If you planning on selling put the old one back on.

[artcarney_agr]

How old of a boat are we talking? Older boats typically don't have strong enough transoms for jackplates.

I ran a CMC Powerlift for 7 years without any problems in the time I owned it.

[billnorman1]

How old of a boat are we talking? Older boats typically don't have strong enough transoms for jackplates.
I ran a CMC Powerlift for 7 years without any problems in the time I owned it.

Holy Crap!! Now you tell me. I put a jackplate on my 1998 Stratos. At least I think it's a '98, I have had it a while and forget a lot. As a matter of fact, I'm getting good at forgetting.

If you don't know what to do with it give it to me, someday I might be able to afford a newer boat.

[Obsessed]

If you gave the transom some 'love' you know what is back there.

The jack plate will add some stress. Questions to ask yourself: How long was it on there before? Is that what caused the transom issues?.... If so I wouldn't put it back on.

Had a '98 Fisher 21' glass boat with a manual jack plate on it. The transom rotted after years of service, but I think a lot of transoms rot due to holes drilled into them for mounting transducers and wires running down the back.

[billspence]

I had a CMC jackplate. Complete junk.

[artcarney_agr]

If you gave the transom some 'love' you know what is back there.

The jack plate will add some stress. Questions to ask yourself: How long was it on there before? Is that what caused the transom issues?.... If so I wouldn't put it back on.

Had a '98 Fisher 21' glass boat with a manual jack plate on it. The transom rotted after years of service, but I think a lot of transoms rot due to holes drilled into them for mounting transducers and wires running down the back.

The gussets are what typically breaks first. If the manufacturer didn't add beefed up gussets originally to account for the weight of the motor being cantilevered out there on a jackplate, you may end up with issues. I had an '87 Aries that had the gussets come loose, had to have them rebuilt and beefed up, I took the Hi-Jacker plate off after that.

[Brush hog Billy]

Well the boat is a 1990 pro craft with two 3/4" plys so I think I might avoid the head ache and take it off before I remount the motor. Thanks guys