Transom Savers

[fishingbuddy]

I did a search on transom savers and did not find anything. What do you all think I? Need them or not? I have a 150 opti max...any input would be welcome

[Ihateriversnags]

I wouldn't run down the highway without one. When looking for a transom saver look for the ones that are spring loaded. shouldn't be more than about 50 bucks. I have one for my 150 Pro-V that I picked up from Cabelas in Grand Forks for about that same price. Easy, simple, and it says right on the back of my boat to run with one so I figure the boat manufacturer has to know what they are talking about.

Good luck

[fishingbuddy]

Thanks looking for one now.

[mamohr686]

T-Rex makes a new transom saver that also has a removable bar that acts as a prop lock. It's nice to know if you park your rig outside or at a hotel, your stainless prop will be there when you get back. They run about $60. Do a websearch on T-rex transom saver and you should be able to find it.

[hovermn]

huh, I thought that SS props were a little more than $60

Sounds like a good investment to me! Thanks for the tip.

[Finns]

I think he meant the transom saver runs about 60.

Finns.

[andy j]

A Transom Saver is a must especially with that big of a motor. Most dealers carry them and they are pretty inexpensive.

[Maximum12]

Another quick question: I just bought a Crestliner with a 25HP - are they necessary for a motor that small? Thanks!

[prov1900]

I think it doesnt hurt, regardless of the size of the motor. I have always heard that you can use a 2 by 4 in place of a transom saver and they work better, i.e slowly lower the motor onto the block of wood until it is tight. Can anyone verify or dispell this myth? I have a friend that just bought a brand new Mr Pike with a 115 Merc and he was trying to save some money. So far, he hasnt used anything for a transom saver.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I can't imagine that would help. The weight of the motor would still be bouncing on the transom, which is the problem. A transom saver displaces that weight onto the trailer.

[BobT]

What is the purpose of a "transom" saver but anyway; To protect your transom from excessive load? Placing a 2x4 as indicated does nothing to reduce the load on the transom. In fact, it may actually be increasing the load.

I've wondered about this. If a transom saver is intended to protect the transom, how is the boat rated for the motor? I assume that when we are darting across a whitecapped lake and slamming into waves at high speed we are imposing as much if not more force against the transom while driving down a bumpy road.

Is the transom saver designed therefore to protect the transom or just add support for the power trim while towing with the motor partially lifted?

My 90hp Johnson comes with a built-in bracket that you lower into place before lowering the motor. This way the motor is carried partially lifted but the power trim is not carrying the weight. This does nothing to protect the transom but I use an E-Z Loader trailer and to leave the motor down invites a missing lower unit if I should hit a dip in the road.

Incidentally, has anyone seen or heard of a transom saver designed for E-Z loaders? They, at least my trailer isn't designed with cross bar that far back on the trailer so a transom save would have to be about 10' long to reach.

Bob

[Ralph Wiggum]

I think it protects against the motor bouncing and ruining the transom. Driving down the road, your motor can flop all over the place which stresses the transom. When you're running the motor, the force from the prop keeps it tight against the transom or tilt/trim hydraulics so it's not flopping around.

[Guest]

Your motor bouncing on the highway creates lots of stress on the transom. Every bump the motor is stressing the transom. A transom saver of any type that holds the motor from bouncing will greatly reduce the stress on your transom from trailering. When the motor is tilted, the weight from the powerhead is moved forward reducing the torque load on the transom. The transom saver will stop the motor from bouncing which will reduce stress on the transom. If your motor is equipped with trim/tilt, it will reduce stress on the hydraulics.

Take a thin piece of metal in your hand and bend it back and forth for a while.. its eventually going to get a stress crack.. the same thing happens to the transom in time.. to the wood, metal, wherever the fulcrum point is.. its eventually going to get some type of damage.. and that damage can get bad real quick if its not addressed.

If you can avoid damage in the 1st place.. wouldnt we be foolish not to? If you buy new boats and trade them in every couple years, odds are your never going to have a problem.. but if you plan on keeping your investment for a while and want to keep it in shape.. use the transom saver.

[stmichael]

After going through the hassle of replacing the transom in my boat.The person who owned it before me did not use one, the person he bought it from (the original owner) did not run one either. If I had known the kind of damage had already been done I would not have bought it, this was on a 75 hp. It definetly is worth the money to put one on.

IMO, these rigs should not leave the dealer without one, they should adding these from the get go. Free of charge... (Whether it is donated by the boat mfr, or, motor mfr.) They can decide who is to blame for the stress on the transom...It should also come with an explanation why they are important to use.

[Finns]

(Incidentally, has anyone seen or heard of a transom saver designed for E-Z loaders? They, at least my trailer isn't designed with cross bar that far back on the trailer so a transom save would have to be about 10' long to reach.)

Bob; There are savers made that fit into the drain hole of the boat instead of fitting to the trailer. May have to do some searching but they are out there. I think any saver is better than none.

Finns.

[mamohr686]

yep, I ment the transom saver runs about $60 sorry if I wasn't clear

[burl]

I dont have any opnion what is the corect way to support a motor but i do have more questions due some engineering back ground.If the outboard is trailered in almost a vertical posistion with a 2x4 in the in the tilt area would the stress be almost straight down on the transom?Also if the motor is now braced to the trailer in almost a 45 degree posistion woudlnt the trailer be subject to some undu stress?

I swore i read an artical in infisheman mag that claimed these braces did not provide much protection,just transfered the stress to a differant area.I have never used one and i am on my third boat,i usually run for five years before replacing.I have neve come across any damage of any sort.Burl.

[cold one sd]

The idea of a Transom Saver is to transfer the stress from the transom to a crossmember or roller on the trailer. A 2x4 wouldn't transfer the stress away from the transom. No more than removing stress caused by leverage since most outboards are not trailered in the full down postition. Good grief, I'm starting to confuse myself.

[TSCTSC]

Quote:

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I wouldn't run down the highway without one. When looking for a transom saver look for the ones that are spring loaded. shouldn't be more than about 50 bucks. I have one for my 150 Pro-V that I picked up from Cabelas in Grand Forks for about that same price. Easy, simple, and it says right on the back of my boat to run with one so I figure the boat manufacturer has to know what they are talking about.

Good luck

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Spring loaded? Where could I get one that is spring loaded?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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I dont have any opnion what is the corect way to support a motor but i do have more questions due some engineering back ground.If the outboard is trailered in almost a vertical posistion with a 2x4 in the in the tilt area would the stress be almost straight down on the transom?Also if the motor is now braced to the trailer in almost a 45 degree posistion woudlnt the trailer be subject to some undu stress?

I swore i read an artical in infisheman mag that claimed these braces did not provide much protection,just transfered the stress to a differant area.I have never used one and i am on my third boat,i usually run for five years before replacing.I have neve come across any damage of any sort.Burl.

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Even if that's correct, I'd rather replace a cross member on a trailer than a transom.

[Finns]

After reading these posts a little something came to mind. Put your motor in the position for going down the road. Now pull and push, up and down on the skeg/prop. Is there any movement at all? If so get a transom saver. The movement hurts the transom, the transom saver saves the transom.

Finns.

[Mr.Perch]

I got a transom saver for my E-Z Loader trailer at cabelas when the Oatonna store first opened had to have them order it from a piucture in a old catalog somebody must still make one? It has a long straight rod a angle conecton and a short (3ft) section to the motor.

[stmichael]

I was just thinking....what is the "proper" angle to have the motor? I just picked a point and went with it? Does it matter, or, just as long as the motor is supported somehow?

[Valv]

Quote:

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I was just thinking....what is the "proper" angle to have the motor? I just picked a point and went with it? Does it matter, or, just as long as the motor is supported somehow?

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Less angle it's better, but you have to check clearance of motor from ground, if you have 1ft to 2ft of room, you are doing good.

You want to keep motor as straight as possible, the damage to transom is not from vertical load of motor to it, but from twisting and pushing outward.

The more you raise your motor the longer the "leverage" it has to twist transom out. Ideally if your motor can stay all the way vertucally tilted down you will not need a saver, the more it tilts up the more it puts pressure on boat.

As an example pick up a shovel and hold it up vertically by the top of the handle, no sweat, you won't have any problem handling it.

Now keep holding the end of handle and lift shovel horizontally, you will get to a point you have to use 2 hands to hold it (unless you eat a lot of "wheaties") to keep it completely vertical.

This is gravity at work, and principle is same with your motor. If you plan to keep boat for few years you will never see a problem, but if you intend to keep it for a while you will have a problem.

[stmichael]

Thanks Valv,

Great analogy with the shovel.