Towing your boat- Motor up or down?

[Hookup]

I've been towing my boat with the motor (40hp) up, with the safety lever taking the weight... I see other ppl driving around with their motor trimmed down to a very low, if not the lowest position.

Am I doing something wrong???

[Mick]

hookup

get a transom saver. For a 40 HP motor, wha tyou require should be pretty cheap.

mick

[tinman454]

with the roads around ottawa i would take extra care! if your like me and always run late you drive fast to get out fishing one good pot hole could drop that motor off verry bad day also i would chain or lock your motor on the boat can be a life saver cheers terry.

[Wallyboss]

All depends on skeg clearance!!!! I go around with mine up and on a transom saver. I would not rely on the safety lever!!!

[LeGrand]

I've got a 14' aluminum boat with a 9.9hp Mercury, and when driving the roads, I noticed the motor jacking back-up and placing pressure on the back of the boat where it's hoock-up, which made me stop the truck and go and resettle the motor in a right position., just to find that after a certain bumpy distance it happened again, so last Fall I boat myself a transom saver just not to worry anymore.

[MTF]

I have a 20HP on a 14 footer and I take it completely off during transit( i put it in the boat on a rubber mat so it does not shift too much)....it's not too bad it only weighs 80lbs or so...

[MTF]

what is the price range for transom savers?

[Wallyboss]

You can get some for about 40.00

[troutnmuskiehunter]

You can get some for about 40.00

From where Dan?....locally??

[RJ]

I used to tow mine with it down....since my upgrade I no longer can....transom saver now....

Closer to $60 locally I think...

RJ

[curls]

I have a 20HP on a 14 footer and I take it completely off during transit( i put it in the boat on a rubber mat so it does not shift too much)....it's not too bad it only weighs 80lbs or so...

My dad used to do the same (before breaking his collar bone in an industrial accident - now he tows a newer boat + motor that he just bought).

His method used an old trailer tire or car tire to rest the motor on, so that it doesn't move at all, gets a nice shock-absorbing place to rest (less shock/banging = fewer things possibly breaking, like latches, etc), and its free. Something to consider.

[Wallyboss]

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 0_225-10-0

[Valley Lad]

Similar thread already posted on Boats, Motors, electronics

There is a transom saver on Used Ottawa $20

Used Ottawa $20

http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/9073689

[waynerb66]

I have a 14 footer with a 20 hp on it. I leave it down. But I also strap in to the trailer. I had a transom saver once, and I hit a bump and it went flying off. Maybe I did not have it on right. I am not really sure. So I just leave it off now. I have never had any problems. And I drive an hour and a half every weekend to get to my trailer.

[Joey Rat]

As has been said it's all about clearance.

I'm going to take a slightly different tack. Certainly buying and using a transom saver will do no harm. However I was told that my 50hp Honda 4stroke didn't weigh enough to harm the transom on my 16.5' Lund. My boat is max rated for a 60 and the information plate on the back of the boat says the motor should not exceed 385lbs. My honda weighs in at a little over 200.

I think that as long as it is resting on the arms, you aren't exceeding
the max rating and the boat/transom is in good shape then you shouldn't have any issues.

On the other hand if you drive on a lot of really bumpy roads, then go for it and buy a transom saver.