Raising the motor obviously allows crossing shallower water at any speed. For those of us who spend most of our time crossing the shallows, this is the primary reason to spend the money. It begs the question: why not just mount the motor at maximum elevation on the transom and save the cost of the jackplate? Many boaters do, particularly with smaller rigs. But on most boats, the lower unit needs to be deeper in the water for an effective hole shot. With the hydraulic plate, the motor can be lowered at the touch of a button. Then, once the boat jumps up on top, the driver can elevate the motor, resulting in minimal running draft. The higher engine position also improves performance — higher top speed, and/or better fuel economy.