Another transom saver question :)

[lifeisfun]

I used search but didn't find answer to my question ....
My 2004 4stroke 9.9 HP hangs way to low on the trailer
so I have to use transom saver since the motor is very heavy for my inflatable.
When trailering how high should I tilt the motor before inserting transom saver ?
All the way up ? Since I have to tilt it anyway I want to make sure that there is minimum pressure on the transom.

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Another transom saver question

tilt it enough you feel comfortable with the ground clearance, with the boat and transom saver strapped to the trailer, the pressure is taken care of.

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Another transom saver question

Thanks for reply !
While experimenting it felt the least pressure on the transom in highest tilt.
My trailer has clearance only about 7" from the road so
I don't need to tilt it that much to achieve 10"-12" clearance for the motor.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Another transom saver question

in my opinion 12 " is minimum, sometimes when backing, especially on uneven pavement or over a curb.

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Another transom saver question

Hmmm..., the back of the trailer is about 12" but the axle it self is 7 1/2".
I have couple friends with boat trailers none higher than 8". (All small 9' - 13' boats )

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Another transom saver question

I agree with Tashasdaddy, 12 inch min. I go with "all the way up" and a transom saver.

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Another transom saver question

There is no way for me to lift the trailer but I can for
sure tilt the motor all the way up

 

[DJ]

Re: Another transom saver question

The only issue with all the way up is that the load on the transom saver is very light, thus they tend to bounce loose. Not to mention the engine tends to bounce allot.

The transom saver needs some weight on it to work correctly.

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Another transom saver question

Good point ! What would you sudgest ?

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Another transom saver question

You say your axle is only 7 in. from the ground, but when you tip front of trailer up, as in starting up a hill, the axle is still 7 in. but back of trailer may only be 3. You catch my drift?

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Another transom saver question

Got it 8)

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Another transom saver question

Got it 8)

Good.8)

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Another transom saver question

When I go all the way up, the transom saver has never come loose yet. Maybe "all the way up" to me is not quite what it is to some other people out there !!

 

[DJ]

Re: Another transom saver question

If the bottom of the engine is at the same height as the bottom of the boat (transom) or the trailer- right below, the engine will never hit.

 

[lifeisfun]

Re: Another transom saver question

That's right, but if you back up, I guess you can hit stone or something

 

[Deimus]

Re: Another transom saver question

thanks for the info guys I was just goin to post a thread about this because I boyught a t saver for my 110hp but didn't know where I should set it. mytrailer sit real low. so low that the last guy caught it on something and actually ripped th weld loose on the last roller section. I'm thinking of lifting the trailer like I do my jeeps but don't want to get too high and not be able to float the boat off until the whole rig is in the lake. I tow with a stock height cherokee. any way to get a baseline for trailer heght?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Another transom saver question

If the bottom of the engine is at the same height as the bottom of the boat (transom) or the trailer- right below, the engine will never hit.

Point taken and a good one at that.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Another transom saver question

deimus, it looks like you have an axle w/ a four inch drop like mine. Changing that axle w/ a regular axle should fix that. And, if you are still worried about ground clearance, make sure you have overslung springs instead of underslung. When we were building my trailer we wanted to go as low as possible so we used a 4" drop axle and underslung springs. Even w/ 13 inch wheels, the spring shackles only have 4" of ground clearance and the trailer has only about 14"

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Another transom saver question

just a point on transum savers, personally I won't use them but if you do than the bracket should be mounted to the hull not the trailer. Difficult I admit, but if you think about it the engine is mounted to the hull and than you're also going to tie it to the trailer. If the hull moves on the trailer the transum is subjected to more stress than the engine alone can apply. If your brain won't let you accept that your engine mounts were designed to carry the load while the boats is being trailered or that your transum is not strong enough to support the engine than at the very least make sure the boat is tied down rock solid to the trailer. Its arguable that this habbit is going to lead to hull damage also over time. Now I know all you guys who use them and have used them for a gazillion years will shout me down but in the hope that some of you can actually accept that this advise may have some merrit......... I offer it!

 

[gewf631]

Re: Another transom saver question

If the hull moves on the trailer the transum is subjected to more stress than the engine alone can apply.

Granted, the boat will move a little on the trailer, but the transom saver is cushioned, so it's not like the leg is bolted to the trailer!

your transum is not strong enough to support the engine

I have no problem with my 400lb Merc sitting on the transom, or those 115 horses pushing the boat in the water, but I do have a problem when 3/4's of that weight is applying a twisting force on that transom while being trailered.
Now, if you're talking a 10HP motor, that's a different story!

Now I know all you guys who use them ... will shout me down

Nope, no shooting here, it's just that I've seen a couple transoms damaged by guys who didn't use these, so I figure it's cheap insurance.