Steering lock while trailering... Is this OK?

[Mark42]

The owners manual for my Evinrude 40 says to trailer the motor in the vertical position. So I will follow their instructions. But I have noticed that while being towed, the motor tends to turn/rotate on its pivot moving the steering wheel. To prevent the steering system from being moved about and keep the motor still, I bent and ran a length of flat stock aluminum bar from the point where the steering arm bolts to the motor to one of the motor mount bolts that extends through the transom about 2". Now the motor is locked in place and can't rotate and no stress/forces are being applied to the Teleflex helm.<br /><br />After doing all that, I wondered if it was such a good idea after all. Any thoughts?<br /><br />Mark.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Steering lock while trailering... Is this OK?

I simply hook a bungie cord to the dash and to the steering wheel. You get some movement (a little cushion) and real easy to hook up and remove.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Steering lock while trailering... Is this OK?

I hook a bungie cord from a handy spot on the rear of the engine over to a cleat on the transom.

 

[DJ]

Re: Steering lock while trailering... Is this OK?

Ditto Dhadley.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Steering lock while trailering... Is this OK?

Same here...

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Steering lock while trailering... Is this OK?

Yea, I figure that bungie-ing the engine stops the movement without putting any pressure on the steering system. I used to bungie the steering wheel, but then figured that there were still forces trying to move the engine and therefore putting some pressure on the system, maybe (probably not) harmful. But really the reason is that I put the bungie on when I'm putting the transom straps on, from outside the boat. Kept forgetting to do the steering wheel and, getting old as I am, resented the climbing back into the boat to take care of it.