2012 Stratos 486 SF Jack Plate advice!

[OregonDave]

transom.jpgHey Everyone,
Newbie to BBC...hoping I could gain some advice from you all.
I bought a 2012 Stratos 486SF (18.9' 150 Yamaha HPDI) and the way the factory rigged the motor and boat is such that as you trim the motor up the steering cylinder mashes in to the aluminum (or steel) motor mounting plate. No good Billy... I am aware of the problem and I am careful not to trim it too high, but whenever I have a buddy working the boat, I have to educate them about the problem so they don't destroy the steering cylinder when trimming the motor for launch or recovery.
I have received no help on this from Ranger/Stratos at all, so about the only solution I have been able to think of is to add a jack plate to the boat to give it some separation and allow easier trimming without the worry of $1000 in a damaged steering cylinder. (I have attached a pic to show the problem area.)

The trouble I now have heard is that a jack plate really should not be on a fish/ski model of boat, only a bass boat. So this is why I'm turning here for some help and guidance.

1. Can a jack plate be used on the type of boat I have? or am I just out of luck?
2. If yes to #1, which brand would you recommend to purchase? And 6" ? or larger?
3. I know they can improve performance - (currently getting 56.8 m.p.h at 5500 rpm with full gear in boat and 25 of 30 gallons filled). I'm not necessarily looking for more performance, just wondering if I could expect any difference.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!Steering cyl position at max trim.jpg

[Jason Phillips]

First off, welcome to the board! And congrats on your Stratos!

I will try to help you out a little bit. I'm by no means a professional, so this is just my opinion from my own experiences. So, take that for what it's worth.

I am a firm believer that a jack-plate can be beneficial on any boat. The benefits will be different from boat to boat. Having additional setback allows for the adjustment of the motor for more performance (do not read that as always more speed). It can help with drivability, hole-shot, and on most applications, top-end.

1. Yes, a jack plate can be used on the 486.
2. Most any 6" plate will work. I would not go over a 6" plate on your boat. There are a lot of different companies out there that make 6" plates. Do a little bit of research on reviews and look for the best deal.
3. Having the jackplate will allow you to change the boats performance from trip to trip if you want. Lower it down some and you'll have a better hole-shot for pulling skiers or with a load of folks in the boat. Raise it up for a little better top-end running/driving. Or, find a good average and leave it alone.

Let me know if I can help you with any other questions.