I recently posted a topic on here about how the my 2006 8 inch Detwiler stopped working because the turn dial that controls the height of the jackplate failed. My local dealership took out the turn dial and installed a toggle switch on my steering wheel to control the jackplate; the same type of switch that controls the trim and tilt. This also is a more reliable means of lifting and lowering the jackplate. He also ordered a detwiler gauge which would tell me the exact height of the jackplate.

When I brought the boat in to have the gauge installed, the mechanic noticed that there were 4 bolts missing from the tie rods in the top center of the jackplate. Well come to find out that they have to take the entire jackplate off the boat to fix this problem. Secondly, the jackplate needed to be equipped with a spacer to be compatible with toggle switch. And finally, a new sending unit has to be installed to work with the Jack plate gauge.
The jackplate is barely over a year old and Stratos told my dealership that they have to go through Detwiler directly. Well Detwiler said that the jackplate only comes with a year warranty. After going through a bunch of phone calls to Detwiler and the dealership, I think the situation is under control. The representative at Detwiler agreed to split the labor cost of installng the tie rods. He also furnished the spacer, sending unit and the tie rods at no cost. The rep at detwiler said when you are lifting the jackplate up with the toggle switch and there is no spacer it puts to much pressure on the tie rods and they break. According to him, the height is programmed into the turn dial switch and wont allow it to go to high. In addition, the plate needs to be greased quite a bit. Please comment on this situation. I cant imagine that there has been so much confusion with a jackplate.