Manual Lever Operated Jack Plate

[JP_in_STL]

We live 2 miles from Meramec Caverns.  Kid is a fishing nut, ties his own lures.  Worked for a Shimano Calcutta Conquest BFS that he's now got ceramic bearings in.  He fishes every spare moment he can.  He was gifted a 14ft Jon Boat with a 9.9 that has been sitting neglected, rotted carpet and deck but the bones are good.  We are going to strip and rebuild.  No way no how is Momma Bear going to let him out on the Meramec, but she'd let him get on the slow Bourbeuse. 

Before the Jet Lower Units became so popular, all the old guys (who are now dead and not around to ask) ran a manual jack plate.  In the local skinny water, come to a shallow, lever down the arm to raise the motor, float through, then drop her back down.  You'd see these on the Bourbeuse, upper Meramec, when I was a kid in the '80s (I'm 52) but not anymore.  Gramps had one on his gigging boat.  Kid thinks he need a Surface Drive or Mud Motor, but I think a jack plate would be better.

So what is a brand name, something I can Gogole as I think we need 1 for the kids new boat.  I can find electric, hydraulic, and all kinds of jack plates.  But not the one I'm looking for with the lever arm.  Dad (Me) is a decent fabricator, so worst case we can build something.  But I need pics and ideas.

 

 

[MrGiggles]

Closest thing I have seen to that is these. They have a hand crank to go up and down as needed.

https://ontheflyjackplates.com/products/standard-manual-jack-plate-up-to-30hp

I had an old 9.8 Merc with a "troll" lever on the tilt bracket. It dropped a bracket down that would hold the lower unit up quite a bit. I assumed it was for slow trolling, or running through shallow water. Don't know if something similar came on other motors.

[JP_in_STL]

1 hour ago, MrGiggles said:

Closest thing I have seen to that is these. They have a hand crank to go up and down as needed.

https://ontheflyjackplates.com/products/standard-manual-jack-plate-up-to-30hp

I had an old 9.8 Merc with a "troll" lever on the tilt bracket. It dropped a bracket down that would hold the lower unit up quite a bit. I assumed it was for slow trolling, or running through shallow water. Don't know if something similar came on other motors.

 MrGiggles I've seen the OnTheFly but I'm envisioning my teenager trying to run the throtlle, tiller, and the hand crank at the same time.

The Troll Lever sounds similar, but what I remember was a long lever, longer than the tiller, that pivoted down and then locked in a notch.  Run your riffle.  Then release and lever back up to move the motor down.

I made a shroud for the mighty Merc 3.3 that I run on my 18ft PaddleJon and the Grumman Square Stern.  Saves on sheer pins.  I may just make something for the 9.9 on his 14ft Jon boat.

[Brian Jones]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DPTrjNmef/

I really hope this link works.  It is on the Current River, Jacks Fork & Eleven Point River (Missouri Scenic Rivers) Facebook page.  This is what I imagine you're looking for.  I've seen them a couple of times on boats sitting in yards in River country.  Also saw a trapper using one on a jon boat one time years ago up from Belle Chute on the Gasconade.