Trailer transom saver yes or no?

[Wayne Cammidge]

I do not think that it should be called a Transom saver.
It is not there to protect the transom
It is there to support the engine.
They help reduce a lot of the road bumps and vibrations that get transferred to the engine.
I believe they take a lot of strain off the steering systems, the swivel bracket, the engine mounts and the hydraulics.
They also prevent the engine from coming down and striking the road in some situations
There are some amazing versions, so you should be able to find a version that fits your situation.
If you have rough roads, or a long tow, I believe you should be using something

[flabum1017]

I do not think that it should be called a Transom saver.
It is not there to protect the transom
It is there to support the engine.
They help reduce a lot of the road bumps and vibrations that get transferred to the engine.
I believe they take a lot of strain off the steering systems, the swivel bracket, the engine mounts and the hydraulics.
They also prevent the engine from coming down and striking the road in some situations
There are some amazing versions, so you should be able to find a version that fits your situation.
If you have rough roads, or a long tow, I believe you should be using something

All engines have a mechanical tilt lock that takes the load off the hydraulics....................

[nitro_rat]

The ones that go from the trailer to the lower unit DO take the load of the motor off of the transom and transfer it to the trailer.

All the “amazing” versions that slip over the trim cylinders do is keep the skeg from grinding off on the pavement if the trim leaks down...

[moatorbotin]

As said before, the transom is designed to hold the entire weight of the boat jumping waves and hard accelerations..... If you think the transom can't survive the forces of trailering, then you should deep six the boat...... With the boat on a trailer going down the road with a transom saver, there will be a little hopping on the trailer and the engine will be putting that force onto the transom including the weight of the boat. Look at it like this: you load the boat onto the trailer, then you put the transom saver in place and trim the engine down to make the trailer support the weight of the engine. So now the trailer is neutralizing the engine.... so, you head down the road and hit bumps.... now the weight of the engine and the back of the boat is bouncing on the trailer through the transom saver... you have doubled (or more) the forces on the transom......


The only thing you have to think of is preventing the engine from hopping on the tilt ram....... simply set the engine trailering lock and trim down on it..... problem solved.

If the boat is properly strapped down with the bow eye/winch, and the rear tie down straps, there should be very little movement between boat and trailer.

[moatorbotin]

I do not think that it should be called a Transom saver.
It is not there to protect the transom
It is there to support the engine.
They help reduce a lot of the road bumps and vibrations that get transferred to the engine.
I believe they take a lot of strain off the steering systems, the swivel bracket, the engine mounts and the hydraulics.
They also prevent the engine from coming down and striking the road in some situations
There are some amazing versions, so you should be able to find a version that fits your situation.
If you have rough roads, or a long tow, I believe you should be using something

I agree, I use one on my current set up, 1. because it came with the boat when I bought it (used) and 2. Because I notice my motor bounces around a lot less when towing with it. Not to save my transom, but to take a little load off the hydraulics of the motor as well as the motor mounts, etc.

Plus, it keeps the hydraulics from leaking down and alowing the skeg to drag.

My previous boat my skeg was no where near the ground so I trimmed the motor all the way in and towed with the motor vertical. no issues.

All engines have a mechanical tilt lock that takes the load off the hydraulics....................

Not all set ups allow you to trim the engine up that high, on my boat that would put the cowl into the back of my hull/splashwell and also put's my rigging in a pinch.

I've never even checked to see if I had the mechanical lock...not even sure I can trim up that high.

[HavasuDreamin']

I agree the trailer style transom savers transfer some of the load to the trailer which is a great thing particularly going over pot holes in the midwest, and/or driving in lanes where the big rigs chew up the roads. The problem I have is that all of the trailer style transom savers are crappy products. The one I have right now which has the rubber "V" on the end towards the O/B is chewing up the nose of my gearcase because the rubber "V" isn't solid at the center and the bolt is exposed. I am going to try this boat mate even though it doesn't transfer any weight to the trailer. The one thing no one has mentioned which is critical is to torque your transom bolts down every 4-6 times out. Keep them tight.

[RSWORDS]

All engines have a mechanical tilt lock that takes the load off the hydraulics....................

If you read your owners manual though you will see it's not for trailering.

[Brad Zastrow]

If pushing boat and jumping waves with prop coming out of water does not hurt transom. I do not think towing boat down the road is going to hurt transom without bracing motor.

100% agree. If the transom can hold up to a few hundred HP pushing on it and rough water, why would need a transom saver for a gentle ride on a trailer???

[Karsten]

I don't know know about the Nose Cone but my boat came with a Transom Saver built into the trailer........The guy told me to use it when traveling so I did. When I had the 150 Opti hung I upgraded to a TS that rests on the rear roller. I just feel better knowing it is there and the motor isn't bouncing up and down for miles.

It jumps around enough just going up and down the ramp......

To each his own.

Karsten

[Bodhi]

Wow, the roads some people on here are traveling.... sounds like an offroad trailer is needed not a stick between motor and crossmember

[Noah Burns]

They're so unnecessary that OEMs have delivered boats from the factory with them for decades... hhhmmm...

[Karsten]

Wow, the roads some people on here are traveling.... sounds like an offroad trailer is needed not a stick between motor and crossmember

Utah doesn't have the smoothest Secondary Road and we have a lot of Semi Traffic that goes up the canyon to where we camp and boat.

Sure, maybe it isn't just like maybe a safety Chain on the Bow Eye isn't really needed but it is the law here......Safety Chain not Transom Saver.

If the OP doesn't want to use one, I don't care. Bodhi, I don't care if you don't want to use one....That is your choice and I see no reason and I see no reason to try to chance your mind about it.

Personally, I don't like the motor bouncing.....Just my thoughts.

Karstem

Karsten

[home made tunnel]

I have a 1/4 mile long gravel driveway that the pizza delivery guy doesn't like coming up. Without the transom saver, the motors bounce UP, and come down on the hydraulics. Ya know... that feature that lets the motor hit a rock and bounce up? It stops that ...kinda.

[Karsten]

I have a 1/4 mile long gravel driveway that the pizza delivery guy doesn't like coming up. Without the transom saver, the motors bounce UP, and come down on the hydraulics. Ya know... that feature that lets the motor hit a rock and bounce up? It stops that ...kinda.

And your point......The motor is mounted to the Transom, The hydraulics are also on the Transom so in short the only thing the Bouncing motor is Hanging on is the Transom.

Ya Know, what is wrong with having a $60 piece of Square Bar Stock that holds the motor in one position braced to the Trailer on the rear roller.

Don't use one it you don't like them....The OP asked a question and I gave my opinion and never belittled anyone that said Not to Use One.

Opinion are like What Ever and everyone has one.

I voiced mine and the experts.....Well sorta like watching the Kavanaugh all came with their objections.


What ever....you do don't use a Transom Saver as all the Experts on the matter have chimed in and they are worthless.

Im Out of this BS.

Karsten

[FMP]

Don't forget the tie down straps