Transom Saver

[BTF112989]

Last year I got a new trailer for my boat and The transom saver that I used for my old trailer would not fit on the new trailer. The new trailer is a Wesco aluminum I-beam trailer and the actual trailer frame is about 3 feet from the back of the boat. The bunks are extended out past the trailer frame so the boat is still supported well but the frame that I have to connect the transom saver to is way under the boat. Do any of you have a solution or idea for supporting my boat engine because I am about to trailer it 900 miles in a month and my engine needs to be supported? I think a 48" transom saver would work but the engine seems like it would still be a little too close to the road for my comfort. Is there a transom saver that is longer then 48" available? Do any of you have a saltwater boat trailer like mine? If so, how have you solved your problem of engine support on these types of trailers?

 

[gatorred]

Re: Transom Saver

can you make the old transom saver work by making a brace from back of trailer like move roller back 2.5 foot make sure boat on trailer right too not back to far. make a part that goes to frame like block of wood or steel move able frame add on i helped alot of boater's trailer boat's saw many mod's for saver mount's this might help.

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Transom Saver

The old transom saver could work but the engine will only be about 2 inches off of the road which is a little too close. This trailer doesn't have rolers in the middle, it just has little flat rubber pads where the center rollers usually are. The guys who set the boat on the trailer adjusted it just right for my boat so it is on the trailer the right way. Well my engine weighs about 500 pounds so I don't think wood would work. I put most of the engine's weight on the transom saver so that the engine will be less stressed. So if I do that I don't know how well steel would hold up.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom Saver

Check on-line for transom savers and you'll find some that have a bend in them. This allows the forward end to pass way under the boat to the nearest cross-member yet the back end kicks up to keep the engine up high. I had a similar problem when I got a new boat and trailer. I added a short length of aluminum bar stock to my transom saver. I put a bend in it and it worked great. You may even be able to bend yours. The bend should be at a point near the rear of the boat and would not have to be more than 10 - 15 degrees or so. Reinforce the outside of the bend with flat bar stock with the same bend and make sure it extends at least 6 inches either side of the bend. Once bent, metal loses some strength and it changes the stress angle so reinforcing is necessary.

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Transom Saver

I might just do that. I'll go take a look at it right now. Do you think mine is long enough to put the bend in it and still support the motor or will I need to get the 48" transom saver to put a bend in it?

 

[Pony]

Re: Transom Saver

or will I need to get the 48" transom saver to put a bend in it?

IMHO, if you are going to need the bent 48" transom saver...........why not just buy a pre-bent one since you would be buying a new one anyways. (obviously if the current one will work what I just said is a mute point )

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Transom Saver

I think I found what I need right here. Thanks guys!! http://www.veveinc.com/shop/customer/product.php?productid=84&cat=18&page=1 <br /><br />Do you think the head of the saver will be strong enough to keep my outboard from turning? I first bought a shock absorbing one for my old trailer where the head was all rubber with no metal support and about 5 miles down the road the rubber head was split in half because it wasn't strong enough to hold my motor without breaking. Do you think the little metal supports on each side of the rubber head on this one will be enough support to keep my motor from turning while being trailered? Should I just switch it with the big metal head I have on mine now?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom Saver

That one should work. None of the transom savers do a real effective job of preventing engine turning. Most new boats have no feedback steering so this is not a problem. I would suggest that to keep the engine from turning, make a strap that allows securing the wheel so it can't turn. This will keep the engine from flopping over. Tie the strap off to the side of the boat (add a small cleat if necessary).

 

[jtexas]

Re: Transom Saver

had one like that (just the "Y" part)...it did not prevent the motor from turning

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Transom Saver

The one I have now does a great job of keeping my motor from turning. But I will tie the steering wheel down so that the engine will not turn anymore.

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Transom Saver

I just ordered this instead of the bent transom saver. Lokks like it will work well if I tie the steering wheel down in one place. <br /><br /> http://www.m-ywedge.com/index.html

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom Saver

Thats not really a transom saver but rather a tilt/trim saver. Its intended to limit the forces acting on the trim hydraulics. This will certainly spark another chain of responses regarding transom savers and whether or not they are needed. Transom savers transfer shock loads from the lower unit of the outboard directly to the trailer so there are no twising stresses on the transom nor are there any loads on the hydraulics. This wedge device only protects the hydraulics.

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Transom Saver

Will the lower unit of the boat really put much stress on the transom if this wedge is on there. Which is more effective in overall protection of the boat and motor? I guess this rubber wedge helps the engine more and the transom saver helps the boat more. I'm about to go on a 900 mile trip so I want to protect both my boat and my engine. I used to have a sea ray back in the 80's and I put a block of wood in between the trim/tilt mechanism and the motor for support. That seemed to work well so I thought this would too.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Transom Saver

the transom saver is suppose to take part of the pressure(wieght of the engine) and flex off the transom. thus the name transom saver. with the MY Wedge, it looks the me that it would be adding stress to the transom. every bump, pothole, will cause that engine to put additional stress on the transom. you hit a bump the trailer goes up then down, with that rubber in there the lower unit will have a tendency to go up and down twice, like on a spring. if i were takeing a 900 mile trip i would definately use a tramsom saver, with a tiedown strap from around lower unit to trailer. not just the bungie around the foot. i know it was long.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom Saver

It makes no difference whether the wedge is in place or not. The same stresses are placed on the transom. Simulate this by lifting and pressing down on the lower unit at the prop. While you may not see the transom flex, it is being subjected to twisting forces. With a transom saver, the force you put on the lower unit is now transferred directly to the trailer. Since the boat and trailer are tied together, these stresses are eliminated. Then there are those that contend a transom saver is not required at all. My thoughts are as inexpensive as they are, and the fact you are making a 900 mile trip, use as much protection as you feel is necessary.