Need for a transom saver

[Love my Lund]

I recently bought a new Nissan 15 HP motor which weights about 115 pounds

I have a 1979 Lund 315 Guide Deluxe and I'm concerned about that much
weight on the transom. The info on the transom indicates that this boat could
operate with an outboard motor rated to 30 HP. I dearly love this boat and the last thing I want to do is damage it. Is a transom saver something I need to
think about.

 

[Pony]

Re: Need for a transom saver

If you have enough ground clearance without one, simply making sure the motor is in the down position and properly secured you will be fine. Even at that, you can use a piece of wood as a wedge to get the skeg a little higher when you do that.

I never have, and never will, tow with the motor in the upright position. The bracket isn't made for that. I have seen guys drive over a bump and have the tilt lock break and then have the motor come slamming back down.

Transom savers are a touchy subject around here. Lots of manufactures recommend them, and lots of people use them. I have one and do use it, but sometimes depending on which vehicle I tow with I will put the motor all the way down and strap it so it cant bounce or turn. There are lots of forces acting on your transom when under power and while trailering. You will not break anything towing without one so long as you secure everything. They are nice to have though when used properly. Its really a personal preference........you will get a very mixed bag of responses to this question.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I agree if you have enough ground clearance then I would not use one. However you seldom have enough ground clearance. You might running on flat ground, but up a hill or into a driveway and the skeg will hit. I use one.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I have one, but the 225 hangs down way too far without one.
Now Gambler is saying to use the Lock-n-Stow with all their boats with a Mercury engine.
Says it is safer than a transom saver.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Need for a transom saver

The V6 Merc on the low slung bass bote on a drive on trailer would dig a furrow if it weren't tilted up for transportation.

The "transom saver" is put in place with no force on it, just to be there in case of hydraulic failure while transporting.

The same transom that can take all the terror this engine puts out can surely carry it down the road deadstick in any position.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I have three different boats on three different trailers. Two have enough ground clearance so there is no issue. One does not. I wish I had a transom saver for this one. I would prefer that over going down the road with the motor up.

 

[JB]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Never saw or heard of a transom saver causing damage, but have had numerous events in which a transom saver saved my transom.

No, you don't need it until or unless you hit that fatal bump. . . then it is too late to ask.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I personally don't use a transom saver and probably won't ever. I have never had a problem using the tilt lock provided by the engine manufacturer. The transom is made to take not only the power of the motor, but also the abuse of rough water. I will say that I have always had motors with power trim and tilt though. My thinking is that the motor in the raised position is pretty well balanced over the transom and the loads should be going almost straight down. Think about this. If the transom saver transfers the load of the motor to the trailer, doesn't it also transfer road shock through the trailer to the motor?? Also, what happens if you have a panic stop and the boat moves forward an inch??

edit: I have considered a lock-n-stow and I would go this route before a trailer mounted "transom saver".

 

[j_martin]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Also, what happens if you have a panic stop and the boat moves forward an inch??

The winch tower receives minimal damage as the rubber mounts of the motor and the rubber pad of the transom saver transfer most of the shock to the strongest part of the boat, the transom.

been there, done that.

John

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

The winch tower receives minimal damage as the rubber mounts of the motor and the rubber pad of the transom saver transfer most of the shock to the strongest part of the boat, the transom.

been there, done that.

John

After it goes through the lower unit an transom bracket.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Need for a transom saver

edit: I have considered a lock-n-stow and I would go this route before a trailer mounted "transom saver".

Only if you have a Mercury, only thing it is for. As far as I know.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Only if you have a Mercury, only thing it is for. As far as I know.

Last time I checked they had them for OMC too.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Last time I checked they had them for OMC too.

See, what did I say. I never check cause I only have Mercs.
I know Gambler is now saying to use them and not transom savers with boats with Mercs on them.

 

[Pony]

Re: Need for a transom saver

After it goes through the lower unit an transom bracket.

The motor will just tilt further up assuming no power tnt.......that movement is where the energy is going......it won't hurt the motor at all.

The guy who posted this has a 15hp motor without tnt......the transom saver isn't going to hurt a thing.......the tilt lock breaking will though.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Ground clearance is the key...more than foot and you don't need a transom saver. Less than a foot...a transom saver is simple to use, cheap insurance.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need for a transom saver

one of the things that most fail to realize is yes the transom is made to hold the motor and the power it delivers going down the lake, but with the motor tilted up the motor acts as a pry bar on the transom and the jolting of the unsupported motor is a lot of force on the transom. It is simple physics. I think for the cost and the ease of putting them on it's cheap insurance.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

one of the things that most fail to realize is yes the transom is made to hold the motor and the power it delivers going down the lake, but with the motor tilted up the motor acts as a pry bar on the transom and the jolting of the unsupported motor is a lot of force on the transom. It is simple physics. I think for the cost and the ease of putting them on it's cheap insurance.

I have to disagree with this. You are right that it is simple physics, but you have to think about it.

With the motor tilted up it is pretty well balanced over the pivot tube. This means that the center of gravity of the motor is very close to being aligned with the plane of the transom. A jolt from a rough road will result in a downward force through the motor center of gravity and hence pretty much straight down vertically through the plane of the transom. A beam (transom) likes the weight acting right through it like this.

On the other hand, if the motor is full down, all of the mass is aft of the transom. A jolt will act again through the center of gravity which in this case is behind the transom. This case will act like the "pry bar" and try to twist the transom out of the boat because the load is acting off-center from the beam (transom).

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention. As far as acting like a pry bar, you have a motor bolted near the top with a prop pushing at the bottom. This places a moment (twisting force) at the mount.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention. As far as acting like a pry bar, you have a motor bolted near the top with a prop pushing at the bottom. This places a moment (twisting force) at the mount.

That is a steady pressure, not a jerking one. With some of my boats, when in the water, at WOT, even if rough water, and in odd turns, I can never see transom flex. When on the trailer, with the motor up, I can see it. A simple strap around the motor, whether in the up or down position, with the slightest preload, helps that tremendously. If possible, I trailer in the down position with said strap. On my other boats, I use a transom saver because the trailer is to low to leave it down, and there isn't anything sufficient to hold it up otherwise. My biggest thing with them isn't necessarily the transom protecting factor, moreso the safer way to hold a motor up. Now, when I get a motor with PT&T I probably still use one for the former reason.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Last time I checked they had them for OMC too.

Yea, I checked and they do have them for OMC also.