Question about the M-Y Wedge

[Ray Esboldt]

Does anyone use the M-Y Wedge? It's an alternative to a transom bar. I have a 90 Optimax and was looking for something better than a block of wood or a clumsy transom bar.

[Valv]

The transom saver might be clumsy but saves your transom.

You don't want your motor to bounce while traveling, the bar applies weight on trailer, not on your boat, a 2x4 or a wedge has opposite results, it keeps the weight of motor on transom.

Tilt your motor up some, then bounce motor up and down by propeller, you'll see what I mean.

I would spend the $ 50.00 and get a bar.

[Ray Esboldt]

Thanks, Valv. That's solid advice.

[Can'tFishEnuf]

I have been using a MY Universal Wedge for my 50HP Yamaha. My boat is rated for 75, do you think I should be using a bar? My tilt is actually bolted on both ends, so would a bar even help? I think some outboards have a tilt where there is a rod that pushes the engine up but it's not connected. I can see how the bar would help there, but not on mine. I guess what I'm trying to ask is, does the tilt have some free play to it so if I had it half-way up could I manually grab the lower unit and lift it all the way up? I've never tried that before. I hope these questions make sense.

[Valv]

Your power tilt has 3 rods lifting motor, 2 shorter ones (these are the TRIM part) and a longer one (the tilt).

It doesn't matter which style, it's the leverage of motor on the transom that can do some damage to it.

Unless you leave your motor competely down, which is dangerous since it might give you very little clearance with ground, just tilting motor up at 40degrees it will amplify the weight on your transom.

You cannot lift motor up by hand if you have power tilt & trim, there is a screw on the right bottom side of motor that can be loosened and will tilt up (or down) the motor, but it's just for emergency situations, what it actually does it opens the hydraulic flow so you can move it up or down.

[SUICK]

Hey ray i've used the wedge for a couple years now on my yamaha but i know of a couple guys that have used them on merc's and it took the seals out of the tilt after i seen that i quit using it.

[SUICK]

i almost forgot let me know when you want to break -in that new boat i know this little lake in wisconsin just don't forget about the island this time HA HA

[delmuts]

that is why the bars are usually called transom savors. the blocks and such are to keep your motor tilted up incase something gives , so it can't fall down and have the skag get dinged. with out a bar, to the trailer, the motor will bounce, which can eventually weaken the transom. since i keep my boats for a long time, i want to protect them as best i can.

[Can'tFishEnuf]

Thanks for the info! I'm going to get a bar after hearing all this.

[PerchJerker]

You need to think about protecting kicker motors too, if you have them. If they bounce on the transom they put stress on the transom, plus stress on the motor's tilt system - not uncommon at all for manual tilt motors to be damaged this way. I usually trailer with my kicker all the way down and the power trim holds it there, with my earlier kickers with manual tilt I strapped the lower unit to the trailer to stop it from bouncing.

[Ray Esboldt]

Suick,

I have that little island burned into my internal GPS. I still feel bad about that one.

[SUICK]

Hey stuff happens but really let me know if you what to get out this spring i got my boat ready to go to so either way

[Ray Esboldt]

Definitely!