Transom Savers - Good or Evil

[Buzzwindrip]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I am fairly new to trailered boats myself, but grew up in a family that always had at least a "tinny" on a trailer that was towed on family vacations. I don't ever remember my dad using a transom saver on any of the Alumacraft boats we had, but I sure see the signs of what happens when you don't use one on the Mirrocraft tinny I bought last summer. The transom has a tear on each side of the stern where the transom transitions into the rear corners. The construction leaves a lot to be desired, and I will be beefing it up with backing plates, but any movement of the LU while the motor hangs on the back shows the flex on the transom. If it weren't for boating forums like these, I wouldn't have even known about transom savers. I'll be adding one before I tow my boat again.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

This is the page from my 04 Evinrude owners manual:

This seems pretty conclusive to me. They don't mention a transom saver.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Interesting, they want you to trailer the boat with the motor in a vertical position, I can understand that.

Then they say if you can't put the motor in a vertical position use the trailering bracket, ok I can follow that

Then there is IMPORTANT: DO NOT use the tilt support lever when trailering

As far as I can tell my motor doesn't not have the trailering bracket, only the full tilt support.

What option am I left with other then the transom support

By the way, what year is that manual

 

[Water logged]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

The manual you show is for the motor. The transom saver is designed to save the transom. If it were to be recommended somewhere it would be in the boat manual not the motor manual.

Glenn

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I just went through my boat owners manual and didn't find anything about supporting the motor.

The motor manual is from 2004:

The tilt support lever is NOT the same as the trailering bracket. The tilt support lever is for holding the motor up when the boat is moored.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Ahh !

I have the tilt bracket which is not very sturdy - don't have the trailering bracket

This is interesting though the trailering bracket looks just like the Swivl-Eze? Lock 'N Stow Motor Stabilizer Lock

How cool

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

My 1988 OMC owner's manual for 60-70 HP says to use the "trail lock" while trailering--this is the bracket we've discussed. Then it "notes" "to prevent possible damage to the motor or transom when trailering, secure the lower unit to the boat transom or trailer."

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

to prevent possible damage to the motor or transom when trailering, secure the lower unit to the boat transom or trailer."

Hmmm wonder how you do that?

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

All I have on my '85 Bayliner w/85hp o/b, is one, I don't know what to call it, slide clip. When I raise the motor it pops into the slot & will hold the motor up. I was told not to trailer with that alone, it won't hold up. So I have a set of heavy duty ratchet straps that I secure the motor in the up position for transporting until I get a transom saver. I'm not too sure where to put it though, The picture on the instructions shows it going from the lower unit area of the motor to a cross beam (or whatever) on the trailer just under the transom. OK, good enough. I went out to look at my trailer & found no such cross beam (or whatever) on my trailer. Where will I place that end of the transom saver? Sorry, don't mean to hi-jack thread with question but as long as you'all is on the subject. Tanx, MAXX

 

[dingbat]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

However, Safety and Health Requirements Manual (EM385-1-1 (Nov 2003)) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, does require the use of a transom saver by their contractors, interesting.

I cannot find anywhere where that doc "requires" a transom saver. It is not on the recommended list of equipment and the only reference to a transom saver in the doc: "Remove all tie down straps, lines, and transom saver."

http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/OFFICES/SO/publications/OM38511.pdf

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

My error, I knew someone would be checking

this is the document that specifies the transom saver and it does state it is not part of the health and safety requirements, however it is appears to be part of the Louisiana DMV requirements. I would have gone forward (actually attempted) and researched LA's law, however the oil spill apparently has screwed up their DMV site because I keep getting errors when I try to download there DMV manuals.

www.mvs.usace.army.mil/safety/Safety.../safety-checklist-small-boats-385-41.doc

 

[JimS123]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I would love to hear from the 4 people that checked the "I left my motor and transom in the street" if in fact something did happen.QUOTE]

I checked that box, though it was not me personally. It was my father-in-law, but I do claim witness to the feat.

I gave him the boat in the first place and can attest to its integrity. The previous owner trailed with the motor down because there was a good foot of road clearance.

The boat was a 16' tinny with a 40 HP Big Twin. He used to trail it with the motor in the tilt lock position. His trips to the cottage were several hundred miles each way and he went often. The "accident" happened I believe on his 4th year of trailering.

I warned him on several occasions and even pointed out that small stress cracks were forming on the top of the transom. He knew that some of the transom rivets were starting to leak, but his comeback was always that the boay was just getting old. I followed him in the car once and could see the motor bouncing around and the transom flexing. I offered to drive the boat and trailer for him so he could ride in my car and see it first hand. Stubborn old coot!

That year when he got to camp it was leaking worse than usual. Took out the granddaughter water skiing and the transom pulled out between one gunnel and the keel. The boat sank. The air pocket under the front deck kept the bow above water, so we were able to tow he in. Got the motor off and brought the rig home. A local fabricator welded the transom back in place. Looked like heck, but it did float after that.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Thank you

Cool story

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I think most transoms would be fine for the smaller HPs, but you get a four stroke 250 or higher HP outboard hanging off the back of your transom...you have a TON of potential energy...and once it gets moving one way it can make leverage!!!

I have a jack plate on my boat...10" set back...I think I have to have a transom saver...I think Id be an idiot if I didnt use one..it is an aluminum boat...so it isnt that bad, repairs cna be made easily....

but for a fiberglass boat...it may be way way more espensive to fix a damaged transom!!!!!


almsot every bass boat now uses a transom saver...probably because they use set backs and heavy motors


even with shocks and pnematic tires...the road can get the mass of the motors weight going back and forth...even if the motor is directly above the transom....

I believe that trailering will put more forces on your transom that the motor will while in the water...UNLESS you hit something!!!


the boat has give while in the water..... nothing is trying to resists the force of the motor!!!!!

but while trailering....there is way way less give

especially when you hammer the brakes!!!!!!!!!! the motor is trying to come off and enter the boat!!!!!!!

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

The only boat and trailer setup that I have owned with a transom saver is a Lund that came with a 50 hp. It now has a 30 hp on it. It trailers fine with the motor all the way down, so I can't see the point of using the TS. I can see it's usefulness if the motor hangs too low to the ground.

The one time that I did use it, I forgot it was there and launched the boat without disconnecting it. Of course the boat did not float off properly and I had to get wet to disconnect it. Does anyone need a used TS?

 

[uplander]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Actually, in 1985 when I bought a 16 ft Deep-v SC Tracker, the dealer not only supplied a transom saver, they made sure I knew why it was there and how to use it.

Same for me when I took delivery of my Tracker Pro Deep V 16 SC in 2000.

This is from my Mercury owners manual:

 

[Martian]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Trailering a tilted tiller motor that bounces puts more stress on the transom than using the boat in the water.

When a person is boating they are not hammering the throttle from stop to full out continually. A bouncing motor on a trailer is doing just that. It is the continual torquing that is bad for the transom.

My motor is tilted because otherwise it would be 6 inches off of the ground. I definitely use a transom saver and lock the tilt after seating in the saver to keep the motor from bouncing up.

One thing I do not have is a fabric tether holding the ends of the transom....I have rubber ones that I replaced this year...I need fabric ones....they are more reliable.

 

[freeisforme]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

I only hook up the transom saver if I'm going more than a few miles, otherwise I don't bother. On my smaller boat, there's not much motor weight and it sits high enough that I don't have to tilt the motor at all.

I've been trailering boats for 30+ years and have never had a failure with or without a transom saver, but I have had a few trips on which the transom saver came disconnected from the motor and ended up dragging along behind for a few miles. I've had a few with suspect means of connecting to the motor or trailer. I won't bother using one that don't pin to the trailer and strap or lock to the lower unit somehow.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Northernmerc: If you don't want/need it, I'll pay shipping if you want to give it to me. "PM" if you want to get rid of it. TANX....

 

[asm_]

Re: Transom Savers - Good or Evil

Best analogy I heard when it comes Transom saver from a woman

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A woman's breast is and capable taking all kind stress during... you know what... but it doesn't mean it need to be bouncing up and down when we go about our daily life. Why stress it when you don't have to?
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