Jack plate for Ventura

[Jmr1974]

My plan was to get a bobs convertible jack plate, was just on their website and it says it’s discontinued.... everyone says minimal setback for Ventura so what’s my next best option? I was looking at a hydrodynamics rapid jack it’s 4” setback which is more setback than the bobs, will a 4” work or are there other options out there? I want something in manual that I can adjust quickly, the rapid jack looks like you can adjust it fairly quickly. I’m hanging a 235hp crossflow on it.

[Jmr1974]

Actually I just found this says it’s a heavier duty version of the discontinued bobs.

[transomstand]

My boat is set up to run with just a 180 lb driver (I don't like anybody much and have no friends). Bob's plate, 2 1/2" setback, battery mounted right behind the seat box, 40 lb weight bag under the left side gunnel for balance (not needed until you reach about 85 mph), engine about 360 lbs. and props without much lift. If I stick a 230 lb passenger in it "as is", it's a dog and will give up close to 10 mph.

You'll probably run with passengers more frequently than I do so the 4" Rapid might be a better choice to give you a little more lift and ease of adjustment. The Bob's can be adjusted on the water but I always pull out to change height when testing.

[Jmr1974]

My boat is set up to run with just a 180 lb driver (I don't like anybody much and have no friends). Bob's plate, 2 1/2" setback, battery mounted right behind the seat box, 40 lb weight bag under the left side gunnel for balance (not needed until you reach about 85 mph), engine about 360 lbs. and props without much lift. If I stick a 230 lb passenger in it "as is", it's a dog and will give up close to 10 mph.

You'll probably run with passengers more frequently than I do so the 4" Rapid might be a better choice to give you a little more lift and ease of adjustment. The Bob's can be adjusted on the water but I always pull out to change height when testing.

Im 170lbs with just swim trunks on, not many friends either (lol) battery is going next to the gas tank opposite of driver, I figure batteries will get lighter and lighter with new technology. Maybe I can shave some weight of the motor? Even if it’s only a pound or so. Rapid jack is only 1.5” more setback than the bobs...

[transomstand]

It's a tough call with no baseline testing. If you go with 4" the worst case would be you'll have to run negative trim and not have the propshaft parallel to the water. Years ago the "Duke of Chippewa" on here ran that way and liked it with a cleaver and an OMC. We used to argue about setup all the time but it was good natured because we were "Ventura Brothers". Think he's still shown on the Hydrostream.org website as a "Top Gun" at about 91 mph.

[Jmr1974]

It's a tough call with no baseline testing. If you go with 4" the worst case would be you'll have to run negative trim and not have the propshaft parallel to the water. Years ago the "Duke of Chippewa" on here ran that way and liked it with a cleaver and an OMC. We used to argue about setup all the time but it was good natured because we were "Ventura Brothers". Think he's still shown on the Hydrostream.org website as a "Top Gun" at about 91 mph.

Do you have a floor in your boat or just a seat box with exposed stringers? I’m putting a rear bench seat in mine but it will be easy to remove to lose some weight for solo runs.

[transomstand]

Not a comp hull, has a floor

[WavetoWave]

What did you go with? I like both the rapid jack, and the SeaStar manual.

[Jmr1974]

What did you go with? I like both the rapid jack, and the SeaStar manual.

I haven’t yet, leaning toward the rapid jack tho.

[WavetoWave]

I haven’t yet, leaning toward the rapid jack tho.

Nice, keep us posted, would love to see a pic of that Ventura. Love those

[transomstand]

Had a guy here a couple years ago did a Ventura with a 5" plate and a big OMC. He did blow it over but I think it was more of his enthusiasm for the "up" button on a windy day than the setback.

[Jmr1974]

Nice, keep us posted, would love to see a pic of that Ventura. Love those

Will do, she’s a work in progress right now.

[Jmr1974]

Not a comp hull, has a floor

How is your shifter mounted in your boat? I’m debating glassing a board going from the deck to the hull like most boats or doing a block on the hull just like the foot throttle block. Guess it depends on what style of shifter I go with... if I do my first option I’d probably be covered either way. You wouldn’t have a pic of yours would ya?

[transomstand]

When the gas pedal went in we just flipped the control box over and hid it under the gunnel. You can just see the lever hanging down in this photo.

[Jmr1974]

When the gas pedal went in we just flipped the control box over and hid it under the gunnel. You can just see the lever hanging down in this photo.

Thanks, in the pic it looks like your foot throttle is mounted to the core and just follows the angle of the hull. Here’s how I was gonna do mine, more straight up and down and at a slight angle so the cable clears the corner of the seat box. I would like to get it lower to the floor like yours tho, my brain just thinks it should be straight up which forces me to build it up this high... maybe I should lay a block on the hull and see what it feels like.