Well that's interesting!
So the persons who told me the block of wood was NO good, were actually full of .... Carp??
As for the tilt lock not being for trailering...
The 50(no TnT) I have the tilt lock is missing,so I had used a block of wood but the 115 (with TnT) I have, has a bar that swings down, and is for trailering..
Could Johnsons be different than other makes in that they can trailer on the lock, but some other brands might not be designed for that? Maybe a difference between an engine with TnT vs one without?
Now I'm curious, but willing to bet the OP would be interested as well....
I wish I had pics of the homemade trailer bracket I built in the 1960's, or of the aftermarket model that was sold in the 1970's. The key is that the engine be FIRMLY secured. A tilt lock is to launch the boat, and its anything but stable.
A block of wood by itself IS no good - the key word again is FIRMLY.
I have both OMCs and Mercs with fold down trailer brackets. That's what they were designed for and they work well, whether you have TNT or not.
Many years ago I followed my FIL down the highway on vacation. He had an old tinny with a 40 Rude that he always trailered on tilt lock. When I saw how that engine was bouncing around and rocking back and forth, I flagged him down and we pulled over. He said "awe it'll be ok" even though it already showed signs of stress cracks on the transom. Later that day on a horrible logging road up to camp, the transom let go and the motor and transom fell off.
From a vintage Johnson Owner's manual....."motor shall be in normal running position when trailering.....if the trailer does not allow enough road clearance, see your dealer to obtain an accessory trailering bracket.......the bracket provides a positive lock mechanism to relieve stress....."
