Transom Saver question (style)

[geeco1]

I tow my boat using transom saver. The style that I have has a "Y" for the motor to sit in and I secure it with a rubber bunge. The other end is just a "U" shaped piece that fits over the keel roller. My question is, with the engine trimmed down until snug against the transom saver, that will keep it from bouncing down, but what keeps it from bouncing up? Is it just the weight of the motor? Do I need to be concerned and get a different style of transom saver?

On my old boat, the transom saver had a pin that locked it to the bracket on the keel roller.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

I use one long bungee running from the trailer frame back behind the motor and back to the frame on the other side to secure motor and transom saver in the "down" position. Seems to work fine for the last 10+ years.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

If it were mine, I would certainl want the bottom end of the transom saver secured to the trailer in some way. I take it this one has no provision for a bolt or pin of some kind?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

On mine, both the "Y" on the motor end and the "U" on the keel roller end have a pair of holes for bungees.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

My question is, with the engine trimmed down until snug against the transom saver, that will keep it from bouncing down, but what keeps it from bouncing up? Is it just the weight of the motor?

Hydraulic pressure from the trim unit.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

I don't have hydraulic trim, have to maually lift motor up and flip the lock lever, one day it bounced up and the lever released, I've using a transom saver ever since but in my case it should read skeg saver.
But yea I have a bungee, on end it permantly screwed to the rod, the other end just has a hook. Ok I didn't comprehend you question the first time, your problem is on the other end but a bungee the same way should keep it.

 

[444]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

Bungees are crap versus the weight of an outboard motor. Instead of dropping 60 bucks on a transom saver I made my own out of a piece of angle iron and a few minutes with the welder. Mine bolts to the trailer with wingnuts so it's not a big deal to remove. The V shaped end is secured to the motor by a ratchet strap. That motor isn't moving anywhere! In theory you can keep one in place with the tension from the hydraulic unit, but I don't like the idea of putting that much extra stress on it during transport/storage.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

The bungy isn't intended to hold the weight of the outboard, the saver does that. During pre launch the lever swings to the side and attaches to the license plate bracket using the bungy, I'll never loose this one.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

If you don't have hydraulic trim to hold the motor down, you need to secure the motor with a strap to keep it from bouncing up.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

My motor weight 235lbs I have a hard time lifting it off the bracket, it hasn't bounced off in 32 years of towing, I have seen set-ups where guys tilt the motors way up in which case I would agree.
Now back to the original poster, your hydraulic trim cylinders should hold the engine tight in whatever position you leave it, unless you have a leak in the hydraulics.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

I use one with my non-hydraulic tilt motor. When I had just bought it, I had bungeed the bottom U to the trailer roller, went over a bump and the bungee came off and the motor went down. Since then I have used a short piece of rope to tie it tight to the roller, using the holes provided in the transom saver near the U end. No problems doing that.

 

[444]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

your hydraulic trim cylinders should hold the engine tight in whatever position you leave it, unless you have a leak in the hydraulics.

But then during transport, aren't you putting unnecessary twisting stress on the transom because you are using the hydraulics to force the motor against the transom saver? Is not that somewhat counter productive to what you're trying to accomplish with the transom saver in the first place...?

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Transom Saver question (style)

444,The way I understand it, with everything secured, you relieve stress from the transom because there is no "bounce" to the motor while going down the road. I found the rot in my transom because I wasn't using one. The extra movement finished it off and I'm lucky nothing happened.