Hydraulic jack plate vs. Manual Jack Plate

[21CheckmateLD]

I realize I hydraulic plate is much easier to dial in and help with prop setup. Can a manual plate properly set up match it in performance or is the extra lift a hydraulic gives add a few more miles per hour thanks

[David - WI]

I think some boats are quicker & faster with the motor at different heights... so they launch with the motor down and raise it when they get up to speed (not for amateurs like me). You can't do that with a manual plate. I took my hydraulic jackplate off because it's heavy and I didn't use it that way.

[4Speed]

I had a Hydraulic jack on my Baja and loved it. When I purchased my Euro I was under the impression in reading the various forums that with the Euro you basically set the height 1.25-1.75 and leave it so I when with a Bobs manual jack. I have 4 different props now... a Lightning ET, 3 different cleavers, both 3 blade & 4 blades and wish I had the hydraulic plate especially with a few passengers.

[Merc 2.5]

I like the weight difference in manual but u cant beat hydraulic for dialing in with water conditions and boat weight (passengers etc.) Changing day by day unless u run mostly alone

[David]

I had a manual plate on a 16’ Baja and that was fine. My SS2000 is much more sensitive to height, load, waves, so I like hydraulic for it.

[Merc 2.5]

I had a manual plate on a 16’ Baja and that was fine. My SS2000 is much more sensitive to height, load, waves, so I like hydraulic for it.

Did that 16 baja have a pad. Buddy mine has one with no pad. older boat tho

[David]

My Baja was a 16’ with a narrow pad. Up or down an inch didn’t change much, nothing measurable with gps