Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

[mannyq]

Besides having to worry about scraping on the skeg, is it better to trailer the boat with the motors up or down. If down, should i strap them against the trailer to keep them from bouncing?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[ISkiH2O]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

What size boat/motor? How high is the skeg from the ground when it is down? Most motors have a latch to lock them tilted up slightly. I usually trailer with the motor in the trailering position. <br />You can buy supports to keep the weight of the motor from flexing the transom. I think the brand of mine is "transom saver". Usually these are for larger (25HP and up). Either way I would strap the motor down to keep it from bouncing.

 

[snohomishbaddawg]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Check your owners manual on your motor for trailering instructions. I have seen motors that recomend the use of transom savers and those that advise against them. There are alot of opinions on the subject of transom savers. Most mid size outboads have a trailering support that takes the pressure off the trim tilt.

 

[mannyq]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Sorry for the vauge info. The engines are Johnson 115's. Didn't know that the engines had a trailering latch that holds the engines at an angle. In either case the skegs would have hit pavement if I had engines down and hit a bump. <br />Since I dind't get my first boat till today (YEAAAAAAAHHHHHH), I didn't know how the boat was going to fit on the trailer and I had read about those transome savers wondering if i should get one.<br /><br />Thanks all!!!

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Next time you come up behind an outboard boat on the highway with out some kind of transome saver, notice how much the motor bounces! It will make up your mind in a hurry! If you have dual motors, twice the problem!! More transoms are damaged from towing improperly that from rough water!!<br /><br />Hasbeen

 

[SingleShot]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Get one "Transome Saver"

 

[PDS]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

I have to totally agree that you should use transom savers that go from your trailer to your 115 hp outboards(that weigh about 350 lbs. each) and use transom straps to hold your boat to the trailer. That way, it lets your trailers suspension absorb the road bumps. A boats transom is strong, but you'll feel secure in knowing it's not taking extra strain from towing with 2 motors bouncing around back there. PDS.

 

[mannyq]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Since I haven't looked at the different transom savers yet, I'm having a hard time visualizing how the support mounts to the trailer. Is there a braket that gets installed or drilling required? Is it the wieght of the engine that holds the backet in place or are the lower units strapped to the trailer afterwards to keep them from bouncing? <br />Thanks.

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

check out transom savers at www.cabelas.com

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

There are several different types if TSs, but most of them have some type of mount that secures to the trailer, (usually have to drill holes), Then the other end has a (V) that goes to the engine! You have to trim your engine up, lift the TS up to the motor and then trim it down to the TS! Then there is some sort of strap that secures the motor to the TS! If you do not have a trim switch at the rear of your boat, it is a very big advantage! Not hard to install!<br /><br />Hasbeen

 

[Breamo]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

I have a trailer that at the back end has the V shaped skid that guide the keel to the first roller. How do I install a transom saver. Do I have to put in a temporary cross member at the back of the trailer to mount the transom saver???<br /><br />Any advices would be helpful.<br /><br />Many Thanks, Thomas

 

[bossee]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

helios2002,<br />Best is a transom saver that has support direct to the trailer. Better than nothing is for example M-Y Wedge motor support, that has so far worked fine here (I have Yamaha F115).<br /><br /> http://www.aleader.com/mywedge/instructions.htm <br /><br />/Bo

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Can you send us a picture of the back of your boat on the trailer! I dont know how to do it, but I know it is posable! Or send it in an E-mail to: <br /><br />Rays-shop1@juno.com<br /><br />LubeDude

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Thanks for sending the picture! Wow, Im not sure that there would be an easy way to do this without some major modifications! Do you trailer a lot, (for extended periods) over rough roads?? If not this may not be an issue! Did you say you have twin engines?<br /><br />LubeDude

 

[Breamo]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

Hi, <br /><br />I trailer about 1 hour each way on pretty OK road. I don't know if I have a problem with a bouncing motor at the back as I cannot see. I rest the motor on the tilt up lever. I just thought that the transom saver is a good idea to relieve some stress on the transom and also stop the engine from bouncing around. No, it is a single engine - 50HP 4 stroke.<br /><br />Thanks, Breamo

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

I just realised that we are dealing with two different boats hear!<br /><br />Breamo:<br /><br />I think you are probably fine with your 50 HP motor!<br /><br />I think the 115s should be supported!<br /><br />LubeDude

 

[motownbob]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

I have a 1997 150hp johnson,never used a seperate motor support bracket,never had a problem. In fact, the owners manual states that the built in trailer bracket should be used when trailering, and my dealer backs up that. Bob

 

[agrazela]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

I have a 15' boat with a 70-hp Mercury O/B. It does NOT have power tilt/trim.<br /><br />If my skeg were higher off the ground, I might trailer with the motor down (though bungee'd tightly to the trailer). But, because the skeg clears the ground by only about 6 inches, I feel better trailering with the motor up.<br /><br />The trim lock lever snapped in half on this 25-year old motor; probably from the stress of bouncing while trailering! For awhile, I used the old "block of wood wedged in the bracket" trick; but 2 weeks ago I got one of those "Swivl-Eze" motor support brackets:<br /> http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...entryId=32022&storeNum=&subdeptNum=&classNum= <br /><br />BTW: Ignore the ignoramouses posting bad reviews whose brackets fell off while trailering; you have to bungee the "v"-shaped part to the motor AND bungee the "u"-shaped part to your rear roller (it comes with bungees and there are holes in the device for just this purpose, DUH!!!).<br /><br />I KNOW this device is good; a week ago, my leaf spring welds gave out, and my WHOLE AXLE fell off (at about 30mph)...fortunately, the boat was securely strapped down and didn't budge one inch...also, the motor didn't budge one millimeter! Had I been using the old "block of wood" trick THEN, the lower unit would've probably been shorn right off.<br /><br />Now that I think about it, had I been trailering motor DOWN...regardless of skeg clearance with WHEELS ON THE TRAILER...the LU would have hit the street...<br /><br />ALWAYS UP! And get a bracket!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

IGNORAMUSES!! Come on, straps can come lose, or get weathered and break! I think thats a little harsh!

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Should I trailer with outboard down or up?

I have to agree with motownbob, I have twin 200's and all you really have to do is sit the motor down on the factory trailer locks, they keep the motor from bouncing, that's what they are designed for.