transom saver???

[picksbigwagon]

SO I just bought my first boat, and I don't want to ding up the motor when I am trailering the boat, so do I use the trim and put the motor all the way up, or leave it all the way down, or do I use a 2x6 and wedge in between the motor and trim/tilt? it is a 40 hp evinrude on a 16 foot fish hawk. the engine is a tiller if that makes a difference, and the reason I think I need to lift the motor up is because my driveway has a slight hill in and I think I will ding it up when I back the boat into the driveway. Thanks for any kind of input here....of course I would take the 2x6 out of the trim at the landing

[Ufatz]

Sounds like a nice boat-motor package. Any kind of transom saver is a wise investment. Don't leave home without one.

[picksbigwagon]

what about the 9.9 kicker, do I need a transom saver for that one too?

[SteveWilson]

For the kicker it depends on how low it hangs when down. Mine hangs a bit lower than I would like so I leave the motor tilted up (Panther lift) and I use the strap from Panther to keep it from bouncing.

[Kab Dreamin]

You definitely should get a transom saver. It takes the pressure off of the seals in the trim/tilt unit so that you don't blow them out while bouncing down the highway and it also helps protect the transom from flexing as the motor bounces. I never trailer my boat without one. Just take a look sometime at a boat without one when you are driving down the road. The motor is bouncing all over and that can't be good for your trim/tilt pump. A block of wood cannot offer that kind of protection.

[Walleyeguy31]

I use a 2x6 on my 150 Mariner and leave the 15 horse kicker down when trailering.

[unclejake]

I have this rubber thing called a "wedge"...trim the motor up...then put this rubber wedge in and tilt the motor down a little...supposed to help absorb the shock so the trim doesn't take such a beating. Just got the boat and motor this year so not sure how it will hold up...seems to be working good so far...and it is very easy to use. maybe someone else out there has experience (good or bad) with the rubber wedge.

[Da Beak]

After spending thousands already, $30 - $40 seems like a small price to pay to protect your investment. I wouldn't be without one.

[TSCTSC]

Well, I have a transom saver too. Protecting the transom was intuitive. However, I have two questions :

1. If the transom saver is that important, how come my lund boat manual and the motor manual does not say anything about using a transom saver. In fact, it says to trailer the boat with the motor in the normal position - which I presume is the down position. I do not think that is a good position from a trailering point of view as when you go up or down slopes, you risk damaging the lower unit of the motor. On the other hand, I can understand that keeping it in the normal position, will keep the motor supported with the most number of pistons.

2. THis leads to the next question. What is the best angle to use the transom saver? How much should I trim the motor up when using the transom saver? Any good advice on that?

Currently, I trim the motor high enough to make sure that I do not damage the lower unit when I trailer it. It is approximately 2-2.5 feet off the road and is about an angle of 30 degrees. In this position, the motor unfortunately is not resting on two of the pistons, so support for the motor is reduced. But I figured with the transom saver, that is fine.

[EJ]

1. I do not know about your Lund manual, but my Yamaha manual says to use a support device (transom saver) if the motor cannot be trailered in normal operating position.

2. I try to keep the angle as minimal as possible yet provide all necessary clearance. The lower the angle the less leverage against the transom and tilt/trim if not using a transom saver and the less force on the lower unit if using a transom saver.

EJ