Who has put a jack plate on an RT Ranger?

[FlFedAngler]

I have a 2015 RT 188 (no pad) and want to hear from other RT owners. Is adding a jack plate to an RT worth it. Did you gain speed, lift, hole shot or nothing?

[06 SB]

When I was considering an RT last year, I remember reading that a jack plate had to be installed at the factory or it would void the hull warranty. You might want to look into that issue.

[alanhore]

When I was considering an RT last year, I remember reading that a jack plate had to be installed at the factory or it would void the hull warranty. You might want to look into that issue.

4" max too I believe.

[Pagregss]

I installed an Atlas MicroJacker after I bought my boat. I talked to Ranger and they specified that it had to be that exact jack plate and it had to be installed by the dealer to keep my hull warranty.

[Beachcomber]

When I purchased my 2020 Rt178 I had the dealer install a 4" manual Jackplate. Hole shot was very impressive and lift was ok. Top end was only 33-35 mph though at 6200 rpm running a 18p Mercury Vengeance prop. I switched the prop out to a 19p Turbo and now running 40.5 mph at 5400 rpm and a lot more lift.

[Mechanic Bob]

I installed one for the skinny waters I run. Have no idea if it improved performance as I installed the Jack plate along with dual Talons and extra battery to convert my trolling motor to a 36V system.

[vaw121]

I installed an Atlas MicroJacker after I bought my boat. I talked to Ranger and they specified that it had to be that exact jack plate and it had to be installed by the dealer to keep my hull warranty.

I never understood the whole “has to be installed by the dealer” horse shit. I can bolt a Rolls Royce Trent xwb on A350 but I have to have a dealership work on my boat? Yeah cause that’s always the best way.

[Pagregss]

Well, nobody is forcing you to keep your warranty. I can definitely see why Ranger takes the stance that they do since a warranty claim costs them money. The dealer allegedly installs to factory spec, thus the reason. If Joe Smoe installs it and torques the bolts too loose and then trashes the transom or conversely crushes it by torqueing them to 250 lb-ft, that's not Ranger's problem.

[figueira]

I have a 2015 RT 188 (no pad) and want to hear from other RT owners. Is adding a jack plate to an RT worth it. Did you gain speed, lift, hole shot or nothing?

I got a 4" Atlas from the factory
Doesn't do a thing on my boat besides let me get on plane on shallow water
Got to keep it all the way down.
As soon I try to raise it my speed drops dramatically
That was 1800.00 that I could have used in another area of the boat

[Pagregss]

The primary reason I installed mine is that I run my boat on the river too. I like having the ability to raise it up for that extra few inches of clearance. There's this one lake, actually two, that I fish in NY that is connected by a very shallow channel. I love having the jack plate and being able to raise my engine way up and have no issues idling out the channel when others are digging a trench. I don't think I'd bother with a manual jack plate. Hydraulic is nice.

[FlFedAngler]

Thanks for all the input.

[dkeppler1087]

I got a 4" Atlas from the factory
Doesn't do a thing on my boat besides let me get on plane on shallow water
Got to keep it all the way down.
As soon I try to raise it my speed drops dramatically
That was 1800.00 that I could have used in another area of the boat

same here, I have the 4” on a 198p, didn’t help my speed at all, and the boat will only run fast with it all the way down, is nice for navigating shallower water though

[GM4IU]

Micro jacker is rated for 425 lbs max. My 150 SHO weighs 480. How can ranger tell me that’s the only jackplate I can use when it’s not even rated high enough for my motor?

[dkeppler1087]

Micro jacker is rated for 425 lbs max. My 150 SHO weighs 480. How can ranger tell me that’s the only jackplate I can use when it’s not even rated high enough for my motor?

I’m assuming you run a 198, if so I’ve always read/been told 4” or 6” jack plate but must be installed by factory or dealer, never seen anything saying you had to use one specific model jack plate

[Pagregss]

Micro jacker is specific to the 188 due to it being rated for up to 115.

[justsomeguy]

I have a 2015 RT 188 (no pad) and want to hear from other RT owners. Is adding a jack plate to an RT worth it. Did you gain speed, lift, hole shot or nothing?

My 2014 RT188 I sold had a 6" plate I had put on it. Better handling , quicker holeshot, and stay on pad at lower speed but didnt really see much top end, 1 mph was all. Had it on my boat for 4 years before selling it, no issues.

[VA_Bassn_64]

I have a 2015 RT188 and added a 4 inch manual jackplate. I didn’t gain any speed but much better handling in turns and lower speeds and better hole shot. I don’t regret doing it.

[52 gamefish]

When installing jack plate did you have to get a longer cable for steering adding a 6 inch to triton 17ct I can,t get enough cable about 4 inch short just my luck

[Johnnyred]

When I was considering an RT last year, I remember reading that a jack plate had to be installed at the factory or it would void the hull warranty. You might want to look into that issue.

Not true at all. No company can "void" a warranty anyway.

[Johnnyred]

I run a 6" manual plate on my 2021 RT198p. Definitely runs better. Nothing wrong with having a dealer put it on but Ranger cannot require you use a dealer.