Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

[SNye45]

I have already had my engine professionaly winterized (OB -Suzuki 115hp 4 stroke) and as usual will have my boat stored outside, beside my house.

At present I have a transom saver attached to the trailer supporting the engine, however the dealer suggests in their receipt that the outboard should be stored in a vertical position- due to possibly freezing oil.

Question: Is it alright to leave the transom saver on throughout the winter (thus the engine being at an angle) or should I take the TS off and store the engine vertically.

Which is the best way for the transom and the engine?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

Leave it vertical during storage so all the water is sure to drain out of it.

 

[eclark53520]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

You won't care much about the transom when you have to replace the gear case because water pooled inside, froze and busted something...

Store in the vertical position.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

If you MUST store it with the engine up you can put some antifreeze in the prop hub and cover the lower unit to keep water out. HOWEVER, it still would be better just to store it with the engine down.

 

[DJ]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

VERITICAL!

Why second guess the people that designed and built it?

My "second guesses and design rethinks" have a success ratio of about 1%.

Lower the trailer tongue to allow for vertical storage-done.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

and to go a step further--a motor sitting still at any angle can't hurt a transom. Those transom "savers" supposedly deflect or transfer some of the shock from bouncing motors from the transom and to the trailer's cross beam (which is not designed to take bouncing motor shock, although your transom is).
Not only will your transom be fine without the "saver" over the winter, it will be fine next year if you forget where you stored it.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

and to go a step further--a motor sitting still at any angle can't hurt a transom. Those transom "savers" supposedly deflect or transfer some of the shock from bouncing motors from the transom and to the trailer's cross beam (which is not designed to take bouncing motor shock, although your transom is).
Not only will your transom be fine without the "saver" over the winter, it will be fine next year if you forget where you stored it.

That I dont fully agree with. I have to tow with my motor up, otherwise there isnt enough clearance between the bottom of the motor and road. I use my transom-saver incase my tilt fails. Just a little extra insurance.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

suit yourself. No one has ever seen or heard of a built-in tilt bracket failing.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

That I dont fully agree with. I have to tow with my motor up, otherwise there isnt enough clearance between the bottom of the motor and road. I use my transom-saver incase my tilt fails. Just a little extra insurance.

that's what the tilt lock is for, every boat I've owned has had one. (some were little things that flipped up, some were metal brackets that were inserted into the adjustment holes.)

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

I have already had my engine professionaly winterized (OB -Suzuki 115hp 4 stroke) and as usual will have my boat stored outside, beside my house.

At present I have a transom saver attached to the trailer supporting the engine, however the dealer suggests in their receipt that the outboard should be stored in a vertical position- due to possibly freezing oil.

Question: Is it alright to leave the transom saver on throughout the winter (thus the engine being at an angle) or should I take the TS off and store the engine vertically.

Which is the best way for the transom and the engine?

Storing it vertically is the best for the engine. I can't think of any reason why you'd want to use the transom saver during storage. As mentioned, it's used to protect the transom from shock while trailering.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

ALot of the stored engines I have seen the back of the prop is taped off so water can't get in there at all.

The transom saver is mostly for the road so I wouldn't worry too much about it, your transom will certainly hold the static load.

 

['96 Charger]

Re: Storing for Winter - Transom saver or not ?

Yup store it vertical.

On the transom saver debate what happens when you hold a shovel by the end of the handle in a tilted position? What about vertical? Same thing with an outboard.