Transom Savers - Good or Evil

[Lrider]

What is the value of using a transom saver VS not

Was noted below I did not put an option for don't need, you can use Who cares

 

[capt sam]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

where's the "not necessary" option?

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

EDIT, OOOPS, Sorry I was thinking of something else. :redface:

I know afew people that use them and they swear by them.

 

[cdsonsini]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I use one, not sure that it helps anything but it can't hurt.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

where's the "not necessary" option?

+1...

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

+1...

OOPS :redface: Didn't think of that - dunno how to fix it

Guess you stick it in who cares unless the mod can fix it

Thank you for the input

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Check this thread in the Pontoon section to see if transom savers have any value. Here is an example of a boat being towed with the motor straight down which is perfectly acceptable and the recommended method. However, in this application the motor pan takes a beating and has failed where it would not have had the saver been in use. If your boat can be towed with motor full down you don't need one. If not, then you play the gambling game. Do you rely on the tilt lock to keep the motor up (which is not what it is designed for) or do you use one to prevent stern flexing. Your choice at this point. Some swear they are necessary, some don't. Do hydrofoils work? Some say they do some say they don't. Transom savers, like anything else, when misused can cause damage as well.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=405460

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

If your boat can be towed with motor full down you don't need one. If not, then you play the gambling game. Do you rely on the tilt lock to keep the motor up (which is not what it is designed for) or do you use one to prevent stern flexing. Your choice at this point. Some swear they are necessary, some don't. Do hydrofoils work? Some say they do some say they don't. Transom savers, like anything else, when misused can cause damage as well.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=405460

Thank you

I do not have the option to have the motor down, actually I cannot get the motor completely down because the fin touches the ground (very low trailer)

I have never had a motorized tilt before and it was recommended that I use the lock to save the tilt plungers from damage.

SO I should use the lock and retract the plungers and use a transom saver to stabilize the motor to the trailer.

I like that, Transom savers are cheap

 

[5150abf]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

If you use a transom saver(correctly) there won't be any weight on the TT at all, the engine is supported by the tilt tube and the saver.

Running the motor puts way more force on the transom than you would ever get going down the road but I always use the transom saver, it may not help much but it certainly can't hurt.

And yes, a pontoon is different than a regular and I have seen several motor pods with the stress cracks Silvertip refers to, the weight of the engine is supported by 8 bolts vertically rather than across a large transoma and with some of these engines weighing 500-600 even 800 lbs(Yamaha 350) a transom saver on a toon is a good idea

 

[dingbat]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I have never had a motorized tilt before and it was recommended that I use the lock to save the tilt plungers from damage.

SO I should use the lock and retract the plungers and use a transom saver to stabilize the motor to the trailer.

I like that, Transom savers are cheap

That's just silly. Your not going to hurt the trim cylinders with that little of weight.

The possiblity does exist that your trim system leaks down and let your motor come in contact with the road. A simple solution for this is to cut a short piece of 2 x 4 and hold it in position with the trim. The other is use something like the "wedge" . google m-ywedge or details

If you have a Mickey Mouse transom then all bets are off.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

My wife likes my transom like it is and has never compared it to Mickey's thank you

As I understand the m-ywedge is designed to fit on the cylinder plungers, thus taking pressure off the cylinders during travel or at least prevent them from moving in case they leak.

Should I still be using the tilt lock?

Doesn't the transom saver do just that? both to reduce the rocking of the motor during transit and prevent the motor from dropping to a vertical position possible hitting the ground??

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Ahhh -- the old 2x4 trick. If I catch the SOB that pulled that trick, dropped the 2x4 and hit the car ahead of me and which I then ran over I'll -- (I won't finish that as I will probably end up in jail). That is a very thoughtless thing to do and can cause an accident if it falls out. At least have the common sense to install a hook eye and safety lanyard so if it does come out you can drag it with you and not have it go through someones windshield. Next -- there seems to be a misconception about what happens when a motor is tilted up vs when it is actually pushing the boat. When pushing the boat the thrust of the motor is directly against the trim system which transfers force to the transom mount, then to the transom, then to the boat via the stringers and any other supports at the transom (in other words mostly longitudinal). When raised and riding on a trailer there is a great deal of up and down motion that you do not see on the water. The forces at work in that scenario are twisting forces not longitudinal. If your boat is on a trailer with the motor tilted up, grab the skeg and push it up and down with as much force as you can. Watch the transom at the top. If it moves at all you best be using a transom saver. If not, you can probably get by without one. It also appears the naye-sayers are thinking "no" boat needs a saver because they don't use one themselves. Ever follow a tinny with the outboard held in place with the tilt lock. Those devices are one-way in that they stop only downward travel. They do not restrict upward travel. Follow such a rig on a rough road and the motor is not only flopping up and down like a rag doll, but it is also flopping side to side if it happens to be a tiller steer. A tilt lock is simply not designed to take that beating. Nobody cares if you use a saver or not -- but that doesn't mean they shouldn't or that they shouldn't at least consider one. I/O's are different story since they have the engine on the other side of the transom to counterbalance things.

 

[carbineone]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I would say you are nuts not to use one...I cannot see where it will hurt anything for sure and I made mine out of scrap metal I had around here so in my case I cannot even complain about the price of one...

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Ahhh --
Ever follow a tinny with the outboard held in place with the tilt lock. Those devices are one-way in that they stop only downward travel. They do not restrict upward travel. Follow such a rig on a rough road and the motor is not only flopping up and down like a rag doll, but it is also flopping side to side if it happens to be a tiller steer. A tilt lock is simply not designed to take that beating.

Someone told me you had a LOT of Horse Sense

Transom saver it is

Thank you

 

[109jb]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Personally I don't like a solid transom saver between the trailer and the motor because any movement between the trailer and the boat is transferred to the motor, its mounts and the transom. All trailers flex and have some movement.

I also don't believe that they are saving any transoms except those that already need help. If your transom is solid and built the way it should be it should be able to take the lods from towing. That my personal opinion and others have differing opinions.

By the same token I don't like the idea of trusting the motor tilt lock as it is just not stout enough. It is made for maintenance purposes where the boat isn't bouncing down the road.

I use a homemade version of the motor lock in this link. It locks the motor to the transom bracket so that you aren't relying on the hydraulics or the wimpy tilt lock. It also can't come loose like the 2x4.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

After looking at this a bit

I am inclined to think that if the motor is resting on the trim cylinders and/or the transom saver that the motor will flex where it swivels. In other words, it does have some up movement and is only restricted in the downward motion.

This can't be all bad

The Swivl-Eze? Lock 'N Stow Motor Stabilizer Lock is still putting the load on the transom, with the change in motor location I am a little concerned where the bending moment is placed

although I am sure that the transom in very good boats was designed with alternate loads in mind, I don't think that the constant torsion helps the longevity of the transom

How about a spring loaded transom saver

 

[vernonbean]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I'm new to boating (or at least owning a boat) and my trailer came with the transom saver. The few times that it did get towed before I started restoring her, I used it. There was one time I forgot to put it on, but no damage ensued. Probably lucky, though, since the transom was in pretty bad shape.

So, since I have one, I'll probably continue to use it. The trailer is too low for the motor to be fully down when trailering. Therefore, transom saver will be coming to the rescue. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

imagine how much stress 125hp at the prop puts on your transom. WAAAAAAAY more than the bumps on the road. Like someone else mentioned, if your transom needs it, you have severe safety issues and a unseaworthy boat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Has anyone ever seen a tilt-lock fail?

Also keep in mind that a transom "saver" transfers the engine movement to the trailer. When trailering, the trailer moves one way and the boat and motor, as a unit, moves the other. By connecting them, you are putting opposing stress on each. Can a trailer cross bar handle the stress?

I vote unnecessary. At most, a block/wedge WITH a securing line.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I never have nor have I heard it happening. I do strap my stern down, it's the law in this area so it does act as one unit thereby the springs on the axle absorb alot of the bouncing from the road.