Fish-Hawk.Net

Which do you use?
Transom saver or a lock-n-haul or Motor Stick type systems?
What are your opinions and/or experiences?

I used a transom saver on my princecraft 176, 90hp.

Works great but have some tips...

1) the connector to the trailer was one of those pin with ball bearings. Eventually it rusted and the pin would not stay. Needless to say I sharpened my transom saver that day the pin popped out and I dragged it around. Now I have a pin with clip that won't come off.
2) I use a bungee from the saver around the motor to keep the transom saver from coming loose in a bounce. Don't forget on those really rough roads or your saver can pop off.

I use the Motor Mate on the Ranger. I find it keeps the motor locked in better than the transom saver type. I have used the transom saver though and really not sure which one is better.

Ed

I use a Motormate on my Ranger Z118, Evinrude 150hp.
Very easy to use and it locks everything in place.
Here is a short video that shows how to install the motormate.

I use a traditional transom saver and it's worked just fine, no issues. My motor is pretty light though (260 lbs.) so it really won't put as much stress on the unit as a larger outboard would.

Thank you for your experience.
I recently purchased a 2002 Lund with a Yamaha VMAX 150.
Before next season I want to purchase either a transom saver or something like the motormate.

This is something I've been meaning to ask about. I have a Legend boat with a Mercury 50. I don't trailer it much though. It goes to the lake in the early summer and home at the end of September. So nothing really gets bounced around much. I assume that I have no real need for a transom saver, given the little amount of time the boat spends on a trailer. Also, should the motor be tight to the transom when I'm trailering or backed off a bit?

Did you purchase the motormate in Canada? They don't list any Canadian distributors on the web site.

muskie_magnet wrote:Did you purchase the motormate in Canada? They don't list any Canadian distributors on the web site.

I purchased my motormate at Orleans Boat World.

I purchased my motormate at Orleans Boat World.

That is great information! Thanks.

I talked with the yesterday - they sell for $135.00

loophole wrote:This is something I've been meaning to ask about. I have a Legend boat with a Mercury 50. I don't trailer it much though. It goes to the lake in the early summer and home at the end of September. So nothing really gets bounced around much. I assume that I have no real need for a transom saver, given the little amount of time the boat spends on a trailer. Also, should the motor be tight to the transom when I'm trailering or backed off a bit?

It never really hurts to have one but if you are able to tow with the motor vertical instead of on an angle, it really isn't needed. If you need clearence between the ground and your skeg, it allows you to tow with the motor raised a bit while still supporting it to something else. Mine attaches to the trailer so if I hit a bump, the motor doesn't move. The purpose of a transom saver is to ensure that the transom doesn't flex back and forth. If the motor is vertical, most of the force would be taken at the top of the transom pushing down while if the motor is on an angle, it would act like a cantilever and apply force to the back of stern portion instead of the top of the transom resulting in flex which would weaken it.

Adam