Do you tow with your motor up or down?

[wilson750]

How does everyone tow there boat? Motor all the way up with lock or down if you have clearance? Which is the best way for less stress on the transome? I have a 75hp which is 300lbs..

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

I am not going to be much help, mine is towed in the down position, but its a pontoon and it has about 20 inches of clearance, and of course its mounted to a alum motor pod so I have never felt the need to have it up, how ever on my last boat that was a 18 foot glass bow rider that has a old heavy 85 hp Johnson sea horse on it that was towed some what up with a deflopprizer on it or as it is also know a transom saver.


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Marine-Transom-Support-Bracket/16606486

 

[JB]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

Always up, with a transom saver.

I once watched a guy back his trailer into a curb with the outboard down. Tore the transom off a pretty nice boat.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

Always up, with a transom saver.

I once watched a guy back his trailer into a curb with the outboard down. Tore the transom off a pretty nice boat.

Man that would really be a bummer!

I do both and it depends on the clearance. Then again, I am typically towing a small boat (17') and I am aware of curbs and walls and other obstructions...oh yeah, dippy roads. Overall, I believe it's safer to tow with it up and locked into a transom saver.

 

[wilson750]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

I always tow with it all the way up with the lock...I thought that was the best way because it is more balanced on the transom? Or would you think it be better half way down with a transom support?

 

[Slide]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

Always with a transom saver. If you don't have enough ground clearance... longer transom saver!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

Problem with half-way down is that the support you use might fail.

In rare set-ups can you tow with it down, which is the best way for weight distribution to some degree and much more stable. But he clearance issue (good point about backing) makes it risky.

My opinion, if you can't trailer it down, is to trailer it on the tilt lock, except on very rough roads. Transom savers do nothing for the transom and transfer forces to the trailer cross member, which might not be able to take it. If your transom is too weak to handle trailering, it won't handle the greater forces from operating the motor in the water. although the owner's manuals recommend against trailering on the lock, they are not known to fail on recent motors.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

With my old boat I towed with the motor all the way up on the lock and than a strap on it to keep it from flopping but it was just a little 9 hp Johnson. Last week I bought a new (to me) boat with a 135 hp Johnson and I towed it back to my house mid way up on its built in "kickstand" but I'm thinking I should buy a transom saver for it before I do anymore towing.

 

[wilson750]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

I think it would be safer all the way up with the tilt lock.Half way down with a transom saver i think would cause more stress on the transom!!

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

I was reading on a different thread on here yesterday about a guy who had his motor fall several times while towing in the lock position. Recent motors may be better equipped for this but I like many others have an old (1975) motor that is also vary heavy and do not trust the tilt lock to hold it. I also have almost no clearance with it in the down position so if it fell it would certainly hit the ground and cause motor damage as well as potential transom damage. The thread was "afraid I'm going to bust my transom while towing" in this section. Sorry I don't know how to post links in here yet.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

Mine is tilted midway with a transom saver. It's probably about 10-15 degrees further down than with the tilt lock. People can lover or hate transom savers but I'll use mine to the end. The motor stays where it's supposed to and doesn't move side to side at all when turning corners....hence the "defloperizer" description. When packing freight people strap things down tight to the trailer for a reason.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Do you tow with your motor up or down?

There is no "transfer to the cross member". The boat is secured to the trailer with transom straps. The motor is secured to the boat with bolts. The deflopperizer is secured to the motor on one end and the trailer cross member on the other. If there is no movement between any of these, there is no transfer of force since the trailer, boat and motor are all moving as one unit. The trailer springs are absorbing any movement.

Some engine manufacturers do not recommend towing with the engine supported by the tilt lock. They are simply not made for that kind of punishment. They are intended to relieve pressure on the trim system when docked. Check your owners manual.

The next trick is to use a chunk of 2x4 wedged beteeen the transom bracket and the lower unit. I hate to see that used and will verbally express my displeasure with that technique unless a hook eye and a chain or rope is used to secure that block of wood to the boat should ti fall out. Having had one hit my car one time is the reason I'm dead set against this practice.