Vance Manufacturing Reviews 165

I am writing this so other boat owners understand the real risk of trusting products from Vance Manufacturing.

I purchased the Vance Manufacturing JPL4200 2 inch setback, 5 inch lift manual jack plate, rated for up to 115 HP, for my Yamaha F90 outboard. The plate was installed properly, torqued to specification, and used only under normal operating conditions with no racing, no rough seas, and no abuse. Despite that, the unit suffered a catastrophic structural failure that could have easily ended in disaster.

Both side plates cracked completely through around the height adjustment bolts. The cracks ran through the narrow ligaments beside the vertical adjustment slots, which are the weakest point of the entire design. These slots remove most of the metal where the bending load from the engine is greatest. When that thin section of metal finally failed, it left the plate unsafe to use and unable to support the engine properly.

I had children on board when this happened, and it could have been a tragedy. The side plates are made from three eighths inch 6061 T6 aluminum according to the manufacturer’s specifications, but the long adjuster slots leave a thin section of metal to carry the full bending load from the engine. With a two inch setback and a 90 HP outboard, basic mechanics shows that this thin, notch sensitive section is overstressed during normal use, which is exactly where and how mine failed. In plain terms, this jack plate is underbuilt for the load it is advertised to carry.

After the failure, I contacted Vance Manufacturing and provided photos, receipts, and all requested details. Their engineering director, Edward, eventually asked me to return the jack plate for inspection, which I did at my own expense. Once they received it, communication stopped for weeks. It normally took multiple follow ups before getting any kind of response, and even then, answers were vague and dismissive. Only after I stated that I would be filing a chargeback with my credit card did they finally respond and issue a partial refund of 723.96 CAD through PayPal.

The total product cost was 1,049.68 CAD before taxes and shipping, which included the jack plate and add ons. Even looking at their current increased prices, 45.05 CAD for the upper transom plate, 41.61 CAD for the lower plate, 32.11 CAD for the four inch bolt kit, and 29.98 CAD for the two and a half inch bolt kit, a total of 148.75 CAD, the numbers still do not explain the short refund. Vance is now claiming the difference covers parts not returned, even though they specifically instructed me to send only the jack plate. To make matters worse, they have refused to refund the shipping and taxes that were collected at checkout, despite this being a warranty return for a defective and unsafe product.

Between the dangerous structural failure, the lack of accountability, and the incomplete refund, I have completely lost confidence in this company. Their customer service is extremely slow to respond and shows little concern for safety or responsibility. This product failed in a way that could have caused serious injury or worse, and their handling of the situation has been evasive and dismissive throughout.

For a manufacturer that builds components designed to hold your engine to the back of your boat, this level of quality control and after sales support is unacceptable.

If you value your boat, your passengers, or your safety, avoid Vance Manufacturing. Their products are unsafe, their horsepower ratings misleading, and their warranty process practically nonexistent once something goes wrong.

Quick service, quality engineering.

I received fast shipping and high quality product! Easy to navigate website. I would definitely recommend vance to any boater!

Fast shipping and the quality of the product was top notch. I would definitely recommend your product to everyone I know.

Fast shipping, product as described.

What an amazing experience i have had with Vance Manufacturing.
I ordered the wrong jack plate and called the the next morning and talked to a wonderful lady that instantly called the warehouse and stopped my shipment corrected my mess up and still got me my jack plate to me on time. Received the jack plate and was immediately impressed with my purchase enough that I called my buddy that was looking for one and he ordered his that day. Great company and very helpful I will be looking forward to doing further business with them...
Thanks for some good ol fashion american made quality Vance 👌....

Order hasn’t shipped for over a week, after it said it would have arrived already

Very fast delivery. Product looks well made. Have not had a chance to use the kick plate yet.

Your engineer answered my questions, and accurately described the good quality of your mini jack plate. We have mounted the jack plate on my 2022 Lund 1775 Adventure Sport, and did some measurements/adjustments to make sure the transom drain still remains operable.

Easy to shop online. Shipping and tracking was awesome. I will definitely use your services again

Great product. Quality ! Bought a 3 inch manual jackplate. The good is it’s light and very well build

The part I ordered arrived quickly and is what I ordered. Just haven’t had time to put it on the boat yet. Appreciate the timeliness of VANCE.

cust. service, quality product, timely del. currently consulting with Mr. Edward on a jack plate

Love y’all’s products always fast shipping. But I just had to buy a part that was way over priced.

Great product, timely delivery. Exactly as advertised. Wouldn't hesitate to buy any product from Vance.

High quality product and very fast shipping.

Vance Manufacturing are a great company to deal with my order was placed and Vance followed up with some tech questions and unit has been shipped excellent service and I would use their service again