Outboard up or down?

[timmyjoebob]

I just pulled the trigger on buying my first boat: a 2002 Key Largo 186 Bay. It has a Yamaha 90hp 2-stroke and as I read through the owner's manual available online at Yamaha, it says to trailer the boat with the motor down. Conventional wisdom (on the Sticky "Things You Should Know") here says trailer it with it up. So... which is it?

BTW - picking it up in three weeks. Wife still doesn't know . I was LOL at the other post about not telling your wife. Mine will know within a week.

Thanks!

Tim

Here it is: http://www.anglersedgemarine.com/se...ite_type=dealertemplate&indid=1&diid=2515155]

 

[joey maneri]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Some boats on the trailer are too low to trailer with the motor down. I would say the main reason to leave the motor down is to take the strain off the trim rams. Most motors have some sort of lock to keep some of the weight off the rams. On a long trip, hitting bumps could put more strain on the rams with the motor trimed up with no support. Leaving the motor down takes all the strain off the rams, and theres no worries about it falling down.

 

[hokiepoq]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Yamaha now makes a piston that can be placed on one of the trim brackets. The Yamaha service place I went to said Yamaha is so strong about people using this that they won't warranty trim units if those pistons are not used, at least on new boats (that's what he told me at least). He said it takes pressure off the trim unit while trailering. The thing cost around $50. I use it for mine, but mine is a 200hp so I don't know if it mainly applies to higher hp engines. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[halas]

Re: Outboard up or down?

If your trailer is tall enough keep the motor down, less strain on the mounting components and transom and the motor can drain the water out, an issue in freezeng weather.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Definately do not store the boat with engine up. That just collects and lets water sit where it does not when motor is down.
My engine tilt and trim has two first stage rams with a secondary larger center ram in between.
I always travel with the engine up to just before the secondary ram takes over.

Are not the rams small hydraulic cylinders? Thus acting like shock absorbers to some extent???

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Are not the rams small hydraulic cylinders? Thus acting like shock absorbers to some extent???

hydraulic fluid isn't compressible, if there is any give in them whatsoever like a shock absorber you have air in the system, which is bad. (the rubber bushings on the ends are usually fairly soft though, so any give usually comes from that.)

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Down is best, however if there is not enough clearance to do this then up with a transom saver is your best bet.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Down is best, however if there is not enough clearance to do this then up with a transom saver is your best bet.
Just my 2 cents.

I second travling with the outboard up and using a transom saver. Why risk damaging the lower unit?? Very expensive lesson to learn by hitting something when you "thought" it was high enough on the trailer to travel with it down.

With that being said, my lower unit sits about 12'' off the ground when fully lowered. My trailer is a 76 model tilting Tee Nee roller trailer so it sits high right from the factory. But.....like I said, why risk it. I still travel with the outboard up and use a transom saver.

my .02

 

[timmyjoebob]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Thanks for your input everyone!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Thanks for your input everyone!

Good luck with your decision.
Love the avatar !!!!

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Outboard up or down?

If you have a foot of so of ground clearance under the skeg with the motor down, trailer it that way. If not, get a transom saver...potholes, speed bumps, etc. can wreck your skeg, wrack the motor leg and crack the transom. Tie it down no matter which option you choose.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Tie it down no matter which option you choose.

Good point.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Good luck with the wife too!

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Maybe tie her down, too...but that may belong on another forum.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Maybe tie her down, too...but that may belong on another forum.

Now that's funny !!!!

 

[cribber]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Thought is was always tie her up for a haul...

 

[skibrain]

Re: Outboard up or down?

I'm a fan of using a transom saver to transfer the load of the motor to the trailer. Drive down the highway next to a boat being trailered with the motor up and watch the amount of transom flex. Yikes!

 

[mikeroche]

Re: Outboard up or down?

we watched a guy go across rr tracks, boat went across lower unit just layed there .i never leave it down while moving

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Outboard up or down?

Yeah, I like the avatar, too...wondering how you got my B-I-L outside at the picnic table.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Outboard up or down?

My father-in-law used to have a classic Feathercraft with a classic 40 hp Evinrude. Although there was a good foot clearance, he insisted that the motor had to be trailered up. He would drive 300 miles on some bumpy roads to the cottage. I told him he would crack the transom. OMG did that motor jump and did that transom flex.

One day he was pulling a grandkid on waterskis and he lost the motor and transom. Naturally, the tow line was attached to the transom. Good thing the line length was longer than the water was deep and the kid had the sense to let go. Mighty heavy anchor that motor was! At least the parts were easy to find because it was attached to a line....LOL.

Of corse, he also poo-poohed the need to repack them damned lifetime sealed trailer wheel bearings. They can't leak. Next time out he lost a wheel on the interstate and the resulting collision totaled the trailer.....but that's another story for another day.

NEVER NEVER NEVER trail the motor up. They make brackets to secure the load and they are pretty cheap insurance.