Advice for Jack Plate/ Hot Foot

Alright Champion Gang I need advice and suggestions. So here we go........

1986 Champion 201
1986 200 Mercury
23p Trophy

I am restoring this boat and at the moment it is bare hull and the engine only. I know for sure I will be getting Lowarance depth finders (probably 112c and 522), troll motor, seastar 7400A hydraulic steering, new hardware, gauges, toggle swithches, breakers, bilge, aeration, new hoses, bulk fittings and so on and so on just to give you a brief run down. now for the skinny.......... I have never had a jack plate or hot foot. I am seriously considering installing both of these items.

First lets start with the Hot Foot. I have heard they are a pain in the rump on long distance and with rough water (keeping constant speed without loping). So lets hear comments as far as satifaction and if I were to purchase one which type/model/style would be the most comfortable/reliable and functional.

Second, I am considering a Bobs 8" Hydraulic Jack Plate. I would like to hear some pros and cons. yes or no's or set-up advice for the boat and engine I have listed above.

I guess with all of the advice and yes or no's that I get. I will believe in the majority rule and go with the roll.............

Thanks and eagerly waiting, Cooper

I like the hot foots also makes as a good safety feature as well I believe mine is a t & h marine and you can't go wrong with bob's!

Pat Goff can probably give you the best advice on this older Champ. IM him if he has not seen and responded to your post shortly...

As far as the hot foot goes, I will never own a boat without one. I think it is awesome for rough water, as it allows me to adjust my speed instantaneously and feels a lot more comfortable than trying to use the throttle lever. Is it kind of a pain on long runs....yes, but the throttle is a pain in rough water.

i wont ever have another boat without a Hot Foot and Pro Trim they are the best safety feature shot of a PFD you can have...i havent ever had a problem on long runs.....works the same was a the gas pedal in your truck.....the Bobs is a very good plate if i was to get one thats the one i would go with

As far as the plate goes I'm a set it and forget it guy so my choice would be a Rapid Jack by Hydro-Dynamics, Same with the Hot foot although I'm a one hand driver (no hot foot) you can check out Hydro-dynamics full line at http://www.hydrodynamics-usa.com.

Lea,
would you happen to have his member name? Thanks for you input..... Coop

Thanks John I am going to check out the website............. its nice to get several opinions and I am in no rush to make any hasty decisions........Coop

pmgoffjr should be it...I will double check..

Yep, that's it.... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif He will not steer you wrong!! He knows our boats!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif

Thanks Lea........ you da man. I will hook up with him sooner or later. I have got plenty of time to learn from others, that way hopefully I will make the right purchases and not regret that I did and be completely happy with my boat again. It has been a long time coming...............

Cooper

get the hot foot and pro trim, so you can adjust the trim and jackplate at the wheel...The 8" bob's is the best for hydraulic....your on the right track and will not be disspointed....Next thing is up to a 225 and will have one of the faster champ hulls http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif

Hey Chris,
the more I dig into adding things the higher and higher the price tag is climbing, how much I would love to jump up a notch and get the 225 i just can't do it, i can't , I can't , I can't , ohhhhhhhhhhh the pain, ohhhhhhhhhhhhh the pain. Maybe , just maybe if I get the jack plate and raise er up all the way and disconnect the alarm and pinch off the pressure gauge, then run er wide open ............... ah huh you know what I am thinkin........ I am thinkin I could say "Honey I just don't know how my engine blew up! I guess I am going to have to buy a new one now...... gosh dang it! "........... hmmmmmmm there is a plan in the making.......

Hey John,
I talked to Chuck at Hydro and he told me that I should run the 9.5" Rapid jack for my boat and engine set-up. I was curious if you had an opinion on this?

Thanks. Cooper

A little confusion here, Cooper. Championman's name is Fred, not John (he is our resident Johnson/Evinrude wrench) .... and I am not "da man".. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ChampionCooper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey John,
I talked to Chuck at Hydro and he told me that I should run the 9.5" Rapid jack for my boat and engine set-up. I was curious if you had an opinion on this?

Thanks. Cooper</TD></TR></TABLE>


http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif , I've been called about every name under the sun but never John http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif , A 9.5 is what I run on my 201. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif I'm a 3 3/4" below the pad turning a 24" 3 blade raker prop right at 5,600 RPM with 2 and full fuel load and T loaded 65.7 GPS.

Lea, Gosh dang it I am sooooooooooo confused and sorry. When I replied to your responce and when I hit post. I notice your icon with the woman typing and I said to myself " Could Lea possibly be a woman and now I look like a complete idiot" well if soooooooo I am sure she is going to tell me. I even looked at your profile and no word was mentioned as to wheter m/f . I used to have a a friend of mine a long time ago and his name was spelled the same way...... so I went with the odds and it looks like I lost.

Now as far as John is concerned........ and now that I look at it I guess I could say DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA John/Rude DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA it makes perfect sense now and I must say GOSH DANG IT ONE MORE TIME!

As I hope the two of you know that I am new to this website and I am sure now I have not made any brownie points ........ So just let me say to Lea and Frank that I am sorry and Please, please, please, please continue to give me the great advice that you two have so well done. This will not happen again as far as the two of you are concerned............

Thanks Lea & Frank for hopefully continued support, Cooper

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ChampionCooper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Thanks Lea & Frank for hopefully continued support, Cooper

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Getting closer Cooper, getting closer http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif . It's Fred not Frank http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif .

Okay I am going back to bed now........... sleep for a few more hours and wake up and start all over again..........Sorry ..........

FRED,FRED,FRED,FRED,FRED,FRED,FRED,FRED,FRED,FRED, FRED,FRED

DANG IT, DANG IT, DANG IT

Forgive me......... AGAIN http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif

Be careful Mark , Lea and Fred will come looking for you. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

You're gonna be OK, Cooper.... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif Just take a deep breath.... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

Cooper,
I made the same mistake about thinking Lea was a he,She corrected me too.
But let me tell you, she is a sweatheart! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif

I am in a similar situation. I plan to install a hot-foot and steering wheel mounted trim controls for safety reasons. I have been having issues with my throttle adjustment. It backs-off if I take my hand off of it so I have to steer with one hand. I plan to play with the adjustment, but don't know if I can get it right. The hot-foot will eliminate this problem! Regarding the jack plate, I'm not certain that you need one. I have a 1988 201 f/s with an 1988 200 merc. I am seeing 67 mph (speedo). From what I have read, Champs like to have the motor lower than other hulls. I also have the same prop as you do (23P Trophy Plus). So maybe you do not need a jackplate. Something to think about.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ChampionCooper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey Chris,
the more I dig into adding things the higher and higher the price tag is climbing, how much I would love to jump up a notch and get the 225 i just can't do it, i can't , I can't , I can't , ohhhhhhhhhhh the pain, ohhhhhhhhhhhhh the pain. Maybe , just maybe if I get the jack plate and raise er up all the way and disconnect the alarm and pinch off the pressure gauge, then run er wide open ............... ah huh you know what I am thinkin........ I am thinkin I could say "Honey I just don't know how my engine blew up! I guess I am going to have to buy a new one now...... gosh dang it! "........... hmmmmmmm there is a plan in the making.......</TD></TR></TABLE>

You know its probably going to be a little cheaper to sell that one and just buy a 225 JMO!

Chris,
All of the costs are upgrades and cosmetic. My 200 only has about 20 hrs. on her (power head) and when I did shut her down she was running very well and no complaints. I am not the one as to where I have to get there lickitie split. I just want to upgrade with new equipment and make her a better performing boat. I figure if I spend $7,000 on everything I am still way ahead of the game. I checked into the 225 and that would more than likely rack up another $11,000 or higher. Some day a long, long, long time from now I will breakdown and buy a newer boat but at this time I am just a causual fisherman that goes out from time to time and the $7,000 is my cut-off. I think that just making her as new as possible she might last another 20 yrs................. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif
But the 225 sure would be nice............

It is your money and ultimately your decision!

good luck on your restoration, a member in my club bought a hyd jack plate and he did not like it. I really don't thnk the cost makes it worth buying it. A good 6"- 10" should adjusted right would be fine. Bobby Mc http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif

I decided on the 6" Rapid Jack ...............

Should work...Rapid jack is a good one...but I noticed folks were recommending 9.5" ???

Well hello Lea,
Yes there are a few who do run the 9.5" but I am going to go with Pat Goff advice and run the 6". He told me if I run the 8" I might pick up a couple of mph but act a little weird in the Mid range. I might have had a new dancing partner if I decided to go with the 9.5.......... he heh eh he, but anyway it is done and my mind is set on the Rapid Jack 6", I think it will be a perfect all around plate for my set-up.

Cooper

My bad!!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/embarassed.gif I must've missed Pat's recommendation!!! I agree with you...follow his advice!

Not your mistake Lea, he replied on another post that I did....... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif

My only complaint abut the hot foot is that when i am loading by myself I cant let the throttle hold the bolt against the bow stop when I go to latch the hook. This sucks. Also I like to troll in the summer and it sucks having to keep your foot on the gas. It does make driving more fun and it is a great safety feature.

Just as a matter of fact just today a friend of was telling me the very same thing about loading the boat by himself and not being able to keep the throttle on to keep the boat butted up.. and he was also complaining about his leg cramping trying to maintain speed in rough water (whata whimp), so as of now I am not 100% on buying the hotfoot as of yet.

I personally like having a hot foot and pro trim. I like the idea of having both hands on the wheel. Some of it has to do with not having hydraulic steering though. Good luck with your decision.

One thing it does do well is it gives you a lot more control over the boat in rough water. Being able to lift with both hands on the wheel is really nice. When you are having t Tac the chop and you have your bow down things can get pretty harry sometimes with only one hand on the wheel. I have been trying to come up with something to use as a cruise control. I really like the foot. Nothing is perfect.
I do not recommend the hot foot trim control. Its trim control on the floor. I still sometimes hit the down button when I have my legs tucked under the console. And sometimes I forget and rest my foot on it. Its cool when you intend t use it but I have had some scares.