Re: transom saver/engine support ....to use or not to use
I do not believe they are necessary, much less effective, for normal trailering, on a boat in good condition.
If your transom needs saving, you have larger problems.
We know of no instances where the tilt bracket (in good condition) broke or failed.
The primary weight on the transom is virtually the same--straight down on the bracket.
The boat and motor move as one on the road; the trailer can move independently. By directing the movement of the motor to the trailer, you are creating a stress (resistance) which wasn't there before. This could affect the part of the bracket where the motor is attached.
Is a trailer cross-bar made for the weight and stress of a lower unit directed to it?
A rope can tie a motor from moving side to side. It can also hold it tight againt a tilt bracket.
the fact that the owner's manual says not to trailer on the tilt bracket does not mean it is not safe to do so. They are notoriously over-cautious about things like that due to potential liability (in case the owner doesn't set it right). They also say to disconnect the spark plugs, remove the key and kill switch lanyard AND cut off the battery before removing the prop--anyone do that?
At most I might reinforce the tilt bracket by lowering the motor on to a block of wood placed up in there.
For a tilt bracket to come undone, the motor has to rise a good inch or so and something has to move the latch against its spring. Short of gremlins, not likely. If you've hit something that hard, you need a lot more saving going on than the transom.
Most motors large enough to bounce free of the bracket and slam back down are retarded by the PTT system. A smaller motor that doesn't have PTT also doesn't have the weight to do any harm to the bracket, or boat.
Cars travelling behind you don't like it when they fall off.
