Motor support bar or not?
I recently bought an old 1977 Ebb Tide 16' bass boat that has an Inline 6 cylinder 115 HP Mercury outboard.<br /><br />The previous owner apparently positioned the boat forward on the trailer so that the after-most roller lines up just aft of the transom - in order to use a "motor support bracket". (The bottom end of that support bracket has a "U" shape that hooks over that roller.<br /><br />My problem is that now the trailer tongue is very heavy - I estimate it has about 300 lbs weight on it. I am a large man / consider myself to be strong, and it takes everything I can muster to lift the tongue at all!!!<br /><br />The 115 Merc has the old style tilt/trim cylinders that mount outside the transom clamps, and the transom clamps have the tilted up position brackets that support the motor in the fully tilted position.<br /><br />My question is should I live with the heavy tongue weight (and missing support from the rear roller) so I can use the motor support bracket accessory while towing my rig, or it it OK to tow with the old style "up position lock".<br /><br />I feel like the boat fits on the trailer better when shifted aft - taking advantage of the aft roller - and the tongue weight is much improved. But I am wary of the old style Merc "tilted up support brackets".<br /><br />Regards to all, Gold Bear.
I recently bought an old 1977 Ebb Tide 16' bass boat that has an Inline 6 cylinder 115 HP Mercury outboard.<br /><br />The previous owner apparently positioned the boat forward on the trailer so that the after-most roller lines up just aft of the transom - in order to use a "motor support bracket". (The bottom end of that support bracket has a "U" shape that hooks over that roller.<br /><br />My problem is that now the trailer tongue is very heavy - I estimate it has about 300 lbs weight on it. I am a large man / consider myself to be strong, and it takes everything I can muster to lift the tongue at all!!!<br /><br />The 115 Merc has the old style tilt/trim cylinders that mount outside the transom clamps, and the transom clamps have the tilted up position brackets that support the motor in the fully tilted position.<br /><br />My question is should I live with the heavy tongue weight (and missing support from the rear roller) so I can use the motor support bracket accessory while towing my rig, or it it OK to tow with the old style "up position lock".<br /><br />I feel like the boat fits on the trailer better when shifted aft - taking advantage of the aft roller - and the tongue weight is much improved. But I am wary of the old style Merc "tilted up support brackets".<br /><br />Regards to all, Gold Bear.
