On Sep 5, 12:04*pm, wrote:
Are they simply to get the engine higher? *If so, why not just mount
it higher?

For one thing, if you don't have a jackplate, the motor must be low
enough so as to not cavitate in chop. With a jackplate, when
conditions are good, you can get the motor up out of the water
somewhat reducing drag, and also when navigating shallow water. If you
were to simply tilt the motor instead, it would tend to push the stern
of the boat down, and possibly scraping bottom in shallow water.