Difference in Hydraulic Jack Plates

[yamahacat]

I am looking for pros and cons between Detwiller and Bobs Plates, why one would be better than the other.Thankyou for your help!

[Bass Cat Boats]

We wont give you Pros & Cons, though we will tell you the difference. The Bobs has long been touted as the mot reliable plate. It has a slide assembly of nylon on the plate rails, and a separate pump assembly that mounts in the sump. The gauge is magnetically driven, and has a light rings of LED Lights around it. There are two hoses that run from the pump to the cylinder on the plate for fluid. The Detwiler is a redesigned plate, with a 115 Mercury trim pump assembly in the plate. The plate is all integral and together, No separate pumps or hoses. They have an Exact Dial option, that we feel is a waste of money, for a few reasons. So without that they both will function the same through a stalk mounted switch on the column. The Bobs is much faster, which can be good and bad. The dependability is probably a wash, and preference would make our decision. Of course, while we have had no issues with the new Detwiler plates, the Bobs assembly is the proven set up. Hope this helps!BCBBCB

[basschaser]

I have a Detwiler on my present boat and the only complaint I have is the gauge is not as accurate as it should be.I think they are both great plates and the Detwiler appears more heavy duty but as some say the proof is in the pudding and most of the great lakes guys like the Bobs so it has to be a sturdy too.Flip a coin…but the Bobs gauge is better and that might be the difference between the 2.Judd Lasiter

[oldtimer57]

Ive run em all. I dont particularly like the gauges myself. Even the tilt/trim gauge is not that accurate. I long ago decided that I prefer my “ear” or my “hands” to a gauge when trying to set the trim angle or jackplate height. Different loads, different weather, different water conditions, all contribute to the optimal trim/jack settings. If you drive enough, your boat will tell you when things are right or wrong, without the gauge. And you will probably end up with better performance in the process.As far as the plates go, it is a tough choice. Bobs is faster. But a remote pump is a pain with more places to leak and hoses to crack. Dets are self-contained for a neater installation, and since they seem to have solved the bolt problem, they are pretty slick.Racers prefer the quick movement of the Bobs plate. but for bass boats, the Det is tough to beat from a neat installation point of view. I wouldnt even consider the gauge issue when making the decision myself.Ive personally been quite happy using manual plates as the chance of failure there is essentially zero so long as you dont pick one that is not so strong and you start getting stress cracks/fractures.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200

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