Proper way to tow a boat with a motor?

[Bearcamp]

I have a 14 ft. 70 inch Jon boat with a 20 hp. Johnson. When towing the boat, what should be done with the motor? Tilt it up or leave it in the down position? I've heard it's hard on the tramson. And I don't have room for a transom saver (rod type) What else can I do?

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Proper way to tow a boat with a motor?

What I was told, if you trailer it in the down (vertical) position, it's easiest on the transom - but you have to make sure there is enough clearance so the motor doesn't scrape the ground! I run a jet lower unit on my outboard and that's how I trailer it; the jet is far above the ground (even with the bottom of the boat) when trailered.<br /><br />If you have to tilt the motor up for adequate clearance, that's when people recommend transom savers.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Proper way to tow a boat with a motor?

There are a variety of styles for transom savers. There are straight and dogleg shaft, and they can mount to trailer by bolted on bracket or slip over a roller. Some have springs and elastomeric rubber dampers. If you can't leave it down for clearance reasons (and still well secured), I'd try to find a way to make a transom saver work. This is just what I'd do. Some seem to not like them, as we find from time to time here when it starts getting a bit contentious. Since much of the debate has to do with should they be used when you have tilt & trim hydraulics, since your 20 probably does not have that feature I'd say try to find a way. Bouncing everything around back there cannot in any way be a good thing.

 

[Forktail]

Re: Proper way to tow a boat with a motor?

Completely down is best if you can, but remember it not only needs to clear the road, but clear it if you get a flat on the trailer. I run some extremely rough gravel/dirt/pothole roads in Alaska and Canada and every one of my trailerable boats has a transom saver....thank god.