I'm looking into buying a hydraulic jack plate and it looks like Bobs And Atlas are two of the better ones. Can you describe any pros and cons of either one? I watched a YouTube video of them installing a bobs. Didn't look too difficult. Are the prices pretty comparable as well?

Bobs are a little more. I have a Atlas and love it.

I bought my Atlas and gauges at boatownersworld.com . Rockwall Marine put it on.

The new sea star is nice!

What is the proper way to use it? If your sitting and wanting a good hole shot, how high or low should it be? How do you use it in Union with the tilt and trim to get the best performance?

Also which one would you buy 4" up to 12"?

You have to find your boat's sweet spot. I keep mine in the same place for hole shot and running around the lake, if i'm running wide open and wanting to max out my speed I may bump it up a 1/4" to 1/2". Where I use it the most, while running as slow as I can while still staying on plane, I will raise it quite a bit as I enter areas where it's only two or three feet of water ... here in the tidal rivers of Virginia you can run for miles in 2 or 3 foot of water but I would not recommend this on Fork.

I have an Atlas and love it!

I would start with the motor at 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 below pad and play around.(You need to measure this on a level surface) Once I start getting up on pad I start changing the trim, then adjust the height up or down. I installed dual blinker trim switches which makes it easier to adjust trim and jack plate while driving.

Atlas for sure

You need to check the warranty on your boat and check to see what the manufacture recommends. I put an 8" on my Z520C

I guess I need to ask another question. What is pad?

Have had both. And they are both quality plates, with good CS. I prefer the bobs slightly over the atlas.... And here is why. The rods on the atlas and the bottom plate of the atlas make mounting a side scan a little tougher. The rods can also drag in the water at certain speeds and settings or while turning.

For extra money the power coating option on the Bobs is a very nice touch.

I love all of TH Marines products.

Personally. Bobs is the best plate no questions. Atlas is the cheapest and they are installed at all manufacturers. I do know you can take a 8" atlas. Bolt power poles on dual braced brackets and make the side plates of the atlas flex horribly. I personally want to put a go pro on it and slow down the film to see what happens while running Rayburn. I will probably be going back to bobs since I heard they are now making one for BASSCAT.