moving motor during tow...

[shun]

I have a question about my engine steering while in tow. I just bought my first boat and when i am towing my boat my engine moves. I have a transom saver on my engine but am I suppose to have something else in order to keep it from steering during transit? Is there a way to lock the steering during transit? Any help is appreciated!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: moving motor during tow...

A bungee cord around the steering wheel and something else works for me!

 

[shun]

Re: moving motor during tow...

I thought about doing that but I figured there would be another way to kepp this from happening like maybe some sort of lock or bar or something?

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: moving motor during tow...

If you have power tilt, tilt your motor down tightly into the transom saver. My steering never moves during trailering. My last long tow job was when moving September 2006 I trailered my boat from Toronto to Yellowknife with no problems at all, that's 5,500 KM or just over 3,400 miles in 5 days.

 

[guy74]

Re: moving motor during tow...

Some of the newer transome savers, with the swiveling pads, don't seem to do as good at keeping the motor from turning as the older rigid ones do. Just something I've noticed.

 

[shun]

Re: moving motor during tow...

I put the tilt all the way down to the transom saver but it doesn't keep the motor from turning. Now don't get me wrong....it's not easy for the motor to turn...I have to take a turn pretty sharp or hit a good size bump but it is still possible for it to move and like I said I thought there might be something else I could do to lock it in the center. For now I just turn the motor all the way to one side and it seems to not budge during tow but like I said it is still possible for it to move.....so if anyone else knows of any other way to lock the steering please let me know.....thanks guys for your help!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: moving motor during tow...

what motor do you have?

 

[shun]

Re: moving motor during tow...

I have a 2005 mercury 125 on a 2006 nitro 700lx.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: moving motor during tow...

If you have power tilt, tilt your motor down tightly into the transom saver. My steering never moves during trailering. My last long tow job was when moving September 2006 I trailered my boat from Toronto to Yellowknife with no problems at all, that's 5,500 KM or just over 3,400 miles in 5 days.

Wow, and I thought that my last tow from Florida to Ottawa in Feb was a far tow!

They have internet in Yellowknife?

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: moving motor during tow...

Wow, and I thought that my last tow from Florida to Ottawa in Feb was a far tow!

They have internet in Yellowknife?

Not really. Our data has to be flown to Edmonton via carrier pigeon where it is then loaded onto the internet.



P.S
I did that run twice. Once in the middle of December hauling a 4X8 box trailer behind my 2004 Civic and the second time in September with a Ford E350 Cube Truck hauling my boat. The first trip had a section of 800 KM of black ice in the praries that was kind of sketchy. Both trips were heavily loaded and I kept my speed at 90 KM/HR or less depending on terrain.

 

[tnltracy]

Re: moving motor during tow...

A bungee cord around the steering wheel and something else works for me!

Ditto here. Run a bungee from the steering wheel to seat mount. Doesn't turn on me, and allows a bit of play to go along with all the bouncing over potholes they have yet to fix here in RI

 

[Liquidathlete]

Re: moving motor during tow...

Slow down.

Also it would probably be a good idea to check and make sure that your boat is centererd on the trailer. If the boat is off just a little bit, when you but the motor down on the transom saver (assumed to be in the center) the motor is going to try and line up with the contact point on the trailer.

 

[Mark42]

Re: moving motor during tow...

The 40hp on my MFG would rock even with the transom saver properly installed. I noticed that the point on the motor where the steering bar connects to has two holes in it. So I made a support bar from 1x1/4 in aluminum stock and attached one end to the spare hole in the motor and the other end to a long motor mount bolt. Now the motor is locked in place, and there is no unnecessary stress placed on the steering cable. Takes about 30 seconds to install or remove.