This 5 Minute Install Could Save Your Life! Jackplate Ladder

This video is the overview and install of the JIF Marine Jackplate Ladder. Super easy install with basic tools. Yes it would have been way faster with a socket but I wanted to see the “worst case scenario” time frame with basic wrenches. Even with them it was super simple. Must have for every angler.
Quick answer to a question I had. Does it rattle? NO not at all! I’ve had it to 65mph and no rattles at all. My biggest concern was at idle for graphing purposes and no rattle there either.
www.amazon.com/Marine-Emergen...
Good purchase right here. Stay safe and enjoy. As always, thanks for watching.
Riley

[@stevec9625]

Thanks, good video and thanks for the measurement also. I’m ordering it for my Tracker pro 170 with a 40 merc. I had made myself a rope ladder thinking I could get away with just that. Tried it once, it’s a hard NOPE.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

@Steve C Hey glad to hear the video helped out! And yea there’s not much that can beat these things after I’ve had mine on here a few months. The beauty is in the simplicity for this thing. Stay safe out there and enjoy the water! Thanks for watching

[@K31swiss]

I’m putting one on my boat. I also tie a 20’ rope to my transom and let it trail behind me for something to grab so the boat can’t get away. Used to never worry about stuff like this but getting old sucks.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Hey if it keeps you out there longer and more importantly safer, that’s all that matters. That rope idea is pretty cool too never thought about that one. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watchin’. Stay safe out there

[@danielf839]

Great Video. Needs modification to fit a newer Tracker boat. The mounting bolts are too short to accommodate and they are also into the transom. You just need 2 4.5” bolts to replace the factory 4” and you are good to go.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

@Daniel F - Hey That’s some good info right there. I greatly appreciate it. Glad you liked the video as well. Take care and stay safe out there!

[@user-hp5oh8sc9k]

Thanks for the information, I run a Maverick Flats Boat with Jackplate, its a bear to get back on if you decide to take a swim. Never knew these type ladders exist.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Well great! Yea it’s well worth the money that’s for sure. One of the best investments I’ve made for a boat by a long shot. Glad it helped out and thanks for watching!

[@user-hp5oh8sc9k]

@@problynotthebestgarage Couple ot questions, does it ever come unlocked and fall down when you hit chop? Did you have to mount a grab rail on deck to pull yourself up?

[@problynotthebestgarage]

That first question is a very good question. The answer is no. Not a single time. I’ll even go so far as to say this, we hit some yacht waves last year that snuck up on me and we hit hard enough to knock my engine cowl off. Fortunately it didn’t call in but even with that big of a jolt the ladder never moved. In normal chop it doesn’t move either. As for the grab handle, I do not have one. If you check out another video on this channel with the thumbnail of me falling overboard, you can see how the set up on the back of the boat is. I’m able to just grab the gunnel wall and get in that way. Thanks again for the questions

[@user-hp5oh8sc9k]

@@problynotthebestgarage Thanks, a good upgrade would be if they just simply extended the post with a grab handle on it, but I see what you mean.

[@ethan_pennington]

Wondering if it would still be effective with power poles. That thing is slick!

[@problynotthebestgarage]

I hate to say yes or no really but I would lean more toward yes. I’ll be putting up a one year follow up video soon as well but it’s just as great as it was when I put it on for sure. Love it. If you’ve got measurements I can help out with let me know. Be glad to help if I can Thanks for watching and stay safe out there

[@user-ix8ms1vg1b]

Great video and install explanation. Looking to put a similar ladder on my Tracker 190TX with a Mercury 115 ProXS, no jack plate. I see T-H Marine makes a similar ladder and wondered if you have any experience with that unit? If so I would appreciate any comparison to the Jif Marine ladder in your video. Thanks.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Hey thanks for the comment. I saw that TH Marine ladder myself when I was purchasing this one. As far as I could tell, the only thing I really could tell a difference in was just the name and the price. As far as in person though no I haven’t run across anyone who has the ladder themselves unfortunately. Thanks again for watching and stay safe out there

[@bobbarnhill8557]

The issue with this twist lock style is the angle of the ladder is bad. If you put your foot on the bottom rung your shin contacts the next step preventing you from pushing yourself into the boat. This step will work but is far from ideal. Also the plate will catch water either getting in plane or coming off plane. This will throw water on the rear deck. Several boats do not have grab handles to pull yourself into the boat. These would also need to be added.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Hey so while that is very true, to be clear here, this ladder is sold as an emergency ladder. If you are looking for something to use on a regular basis, then absolutely I’m sure there are much better options (all for a cost). This one from my experience though is very simple to use and myself all the way to my youngest child don’t have any issues getting in the boat with it. As for the water on the deck, this has never been an issue with this particular model on my specific boat. The way it is mounted is so tight to the jack plate, there isn’t any real issues with this. Hope that helped anyone else reading this as well. Stay safe on the water, that’s the main thing. Better options may be out there but I will say this ladder is far better than no ladder at all…which is how I bought the boat. Thanks for watching and the comment as well. Stay safe out there

[@mikeramsey9747]

I'm curious as to whether it kicks up water while running on the water?

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Thanks for the question! To answer, the water kick up is very minimal. The only time I get any kick up much at all is when I am getting on plane in very rough water. Those times it will get just on the back hatch lid about 2-4 inches on the carpet. Once on plane it basically goes away. Occasional splash here and there but nothing major. (Unless you accidentally leave it down when you take off…….ask me how I know. At that point it will throw water on your back) Reference purposes as well this boat has a 10” jack plate so that ladder is kicked back pretty far to begin with. If it was against the transom I can’t see this throwing water at all really. Hope that helps and thanks for watching

[@NoBody-vs3lm]

Nice video! Just curious, have you used it at all? Buying a new boat this weekend and my wife wants to go swimming. I don't want to put holes in my new transom to mount a ladder so this looks great. Will this be easy enough to use for getting in and out of the boat though?

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Absolutely! We use this all the time. If you check out another video on the channel here called “Jackplate Ladder Demo” (it has me falling in the water as the picture) you can see it in use. It’s very easy to use for sure. I’m 6’ tall myself and it’s fine and my wife is 5’2” and she can also use it just fine just bigger steps for her of course. Hopefully that helps and if you have any other questions feel free to ask. Enjoy the new boat!

[@NoBody-vs3lm]

@@problynotthebestgarage Thanks so much, I really appreciate the reply. We picked up our new Tracker Classic XL from BP on Saturday. When we were going through the walk through with the boat I asked the guy what type of ladders would he suggest that didn't require drilling the transom and he mentioned the motor mount ladder. I was like, "Hey, I just looked at that one." and he says "Well sometimes we have them in our stock room." So he went and looked and they found one and I said I'll take it if you mount it, it was a done deal. Looks great but we haven't tried it out yet. I'm so glad to read your post now. We took it out but only had time to do the first one hour break in before it started getting late. We will take it out hopefully this weekend to get the second hour in and test out the new ladder also. :)

[@DesertVetRider]

I wonder if this ladder would work on my Bass Tracker with a Mercury 75hp?

[@problynotthebestgarage]

I hate to say a firm yes or no on it but I did go measure this one on the boat for you. The center bolt to center bolt measurement on this one is 8” with a slight offset (not perfectly vertical). There was a picture on one of the reviews when I purchased it that showed it on the back of an aluminum bass boat but I’m not sure what model. If you measure 8” though you should be good to go. Hope this helps. Stay safe out there!

[@DesertVetRider]

@@problynotthebestgarage Right on! Thank you very much for doing that. BTW, I did see that picture you were referring to on a review. Cheers

[@DesertVetRider]

Just measured it and it was 8". Going to order one!

[@SpearingWithSlurpey]

you don't need a jack plate for this right they can just go straight off the mounting bolts right? theres another company that makes these called all aboard ladder I believe and theirs says with or without jack plate

[@problynotthebestgarage]

I’m not sure that you would be able to use this one in all cases simply due to spacing against the back of the transom. That said I think it’s definitely doable to use it without the jackplate since you are using the engine mounting bolts for the install. Hope that helps and thanks for the comment. Stay safe out there.

[@SpearingWithSlurpey]

@@problynotthebestgarage thank you!

[@jerryloftis9510]

Where did you get it for 150.00?

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Hey I just looked it up again and apparently just like everything else in the world….it went up. That link in the description still works (not an affiliate link it’s just a copy paste from what I bought) but it does look like it went up to $198 now

[@carlmaro]

You probably got this 1 million times, but can you give me the link and or the model number of the ladder you used?

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Sure. I’ll put the link below as well but just in case it doesn’t work here is the model. Also it has gone up in price since I made the video now sitting at $198. Still works just as good as the day it was installed, there is a video coming soon that is a 1 year follow up. If you search JIF Marine EOM Emergency Reboarding Ladder on Amazon it should pull right up. Link below. www.amazon.com/Marine-Emergency-Reboarding-Boarding-Ladders/dp/B00EYGP2SQ?pd_rd_w=5zRwR&content-id=amzn1.sym.6c9101f8-677d-4b13-9bf0-c7e0d8fdf3bd&pf_rd_p=6c9101f8-677d-4b13-9bf0-c7e0d8fdf3bd&pf_rd_r=KGJPK7W8VTNSBACZV8W9&pd_rd_wg=fTbHk&pd_rd_r=b3331c7a-153a-437f-86db-5b89eb0641ce&pd_rd_i=B00EYGP2SQ&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_bia_rpt_ba_s_1_sc Thanks for watching and if you have any other questions just pass them along. Thanks again and stay safe out there.

[@carlmaro]

Thank you. Took Mr a while but found it. I meant to buy it during the pandemic when it was 139. I snoozed and I lost. But it's ordered now. Thanks.

[@allantulli5546]

Why not put one on each side?

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Not sure of the benefit there over the added cost but I guess that would be personal preference. It’s just a short swim around the motor (check out my on the water video on the channel showing the use of it in real time). Furthermore this particular one is designed for the side of the motor shown in this video. Can’t speak for others but it wouldn’t be able to flip flop back and forth and be symmetrical if that makes sense. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching and stay safe out there

[@allantulli5546]

@@problynotthebestgarage It's never a short swim when your in the drink and the water is cold and rough!

[@problynotthebestgarage]

This is very true no doubt!

[@TT-ft2dk]

Next time e do the bottom bolt first... then you don't need to hold the bracket up like you did sir

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Well hopefully I won’t need to install another one but that is a good tip. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.

[@56igadget]

That was kind of painful To watch should I use the ratchet

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Yep. Use a ratchet. Still takes no time at all even with standard wrenches. Sorry for the painful view there.

[@SpearingWithSlurpey]

not painful? very informative jif marine doesent even have a video explaining their product its perfect.

[@mikeramsey9747]

Wrong tools for the job, a ratchet would had been better but thanks for the video.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

@Mike Ramsey You are correct sir. This video is the “worst case scenario” on time if you just use simple wrenches. But thanks for watching. And thanks for the comment

[@jaybird4756]

Instead of that use the motor to get back in. Literally hug the motor and press the button on side of motor so it lifts you out of the water...like and subscribe for more free common sense.

[@problynotthebestgarage]

Haha if nothing else that’s a solid mental image right there. Love it. My only issue is the 10” jackplate so I’d just be hanging out waiting for someone to help me since I still couldn’t reach the boat Thanks for the comment though that’s a good one