Leg support bracket, tie it to leg?

[BoatFisho]

I couldnt figure if this was engine related or not as it is more about protecting the transom.

I have a leg support, its an aluminimum square pipe one with a bracket at one end that sits on top of the back of the trailer rear cross beam, then a V at the other end for the leg to sit in, then it has a loop welded on it to tie the bracket to something. Im just not sure what Im meant to tie it to, the leg I presume?

Im trying to figure out whats to stop the leg support falling out if the leg bounces up if it hits a bump?

 

[robert graham]

For motors with tilt and trim then you would just trim the motor down on the transom saver until tight, then I use a large bungee cord to hold the back of the motor down securely to the back of the boat trailer just to be sure....transom savers are good to keep the motor from moving around during trailering and bouncing up and down on the transom, preventing possible damage there...

 

[airshot]

Yep....sure will, that is why you see them along the road in boating season. When I had an ob I used a bungee strap, the black rubber type you can find at most hardware stores. I used one strap the strap the leg to the end of the support bar then a longer bungee cord to hold the ob to the trailer with the support in between.
In other words my support tube did not attach to the trailer, it had a Y bracket the fit the frame and a rubber bow stop that fit on the motor leg so I used multiple straps the attach the support to the leg and the leg/support tube to the trailer so nothing could come unattached if a bump was hit. In our area we had a lot of bumps to hit....miss one and hit two. Our tax dollars at work.

 

[GA_Boater]

Does your motor deflopenizer look like this? The bungee goes around the lower unit and attaches on the other side of the head.

 

[JimS123]

I had to read the first post twice before I figured out what it was about. A Transom Saver isn't doing its job if it falls off, now does it? Its purpose is to prevent the motor from bouncing up and down. Thus, one end has to be firmly attached to the trailer and the other firmly attached to the lower unit of the outboard motor.

 

[BoatFisho]

Yep thats similar to mine but I think mine was built by a boat builder, its not a spring suspension one sadly.

I should have said my engine, 40hp 2 stroke hydraulic assist tilt, Im not sure if there is a way to lock it so it doesnt bounce up.

Currently I rope through the metal loop which is in the middle of the support, around the leg and tie it up. Would a ratchet tie down be even better at preventing the leg from bouncing up and dislodging the support from the trailer? Im pretty sure if it bounced up, the support would get stuck by the transom stern bottom, but Im not 100%.

I also have heavy duty bolted through transom u bolts on either side of the transom if that would help to tie down anything?

 

[GA_Boater]

I can't visualize what you're saying. Any chance of a pic of what you have?

 

[BoatFisho]

Which part is hard to visualise, you mean you bolts on the transom? Sorry cant get a pic as Ive just lost my iphone and my job so no cam agggh blah.

The leg support has a loop in the middle for a rope/bungee to tie to, Im assuming around the leg. It also has 2 more metal loops welded at the top (where the leg rests). I also have 2 U bolts through the back of the transom (for towing etc), I could tie rope/bungee to the loops on the leg support directly to the ubolts on the transom if this will also help.

 

[Maclin]

The one I use now has a half round end that fits over the last roller, a lot like the 3rd pic in GA's post but just does not extend past the circular quite as much as that one. I have a small bunjee looped around the bracket and back to the trailer to keep it from coming away from the roller. It has a rubber lined Vee berth for the motor, and a bunjee goes around the motor and back to the bracket. I take it all the way off when launching then reinstall after retrieving.

 

[BoatFisho]

thanks, seems I have multiple options but one around the leg is essential. the metal loops closest to the leg would make sense i guess to tie the leg down and then maybe one from a metal loop that is in the middle of the leg support to maybe my transom, or looped around the engine mounted on the trailer. hmmmmm

 

[Silvertip]

The whole purpose of a motor deflopperizer is to tie the leg, boat and trailer into one unit. If you are one that does not use stern tie downs on your boat then it is high time you did, or else forget using this device as it will do more harm than good. The fact that you have a hydraulic tilt assist changes how these devices are used only slightly. Hydraulic assist tends to push the leg upward so a means is needed to keep that from happening.
1) Place the "V" end of the unit onto the leg and secure it with a bungee around the leg.
2) Position the trailer end of the unit onto the trailer and again, secure it with a bungee or a hitch pin if using a bracket on the trailer. Note that this end does NOT get attached anywhere on the boat.
3) Your local hardware store has a selection of ratchet straps. Buy one.
4) Place the ratchet strap between the prop and the anti-vent plate and run it back to the cross-member on the trailer. Tighten the strap to pull the leg securely into the "V" and the deflopperizer securely to the trailer.

As a final thought, if there is one foot or more clearance between the skeg on the lower unit and the highway, you don't nee this device.