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re: Thoughts on Transom Savers

Posted on 6/7/16 at 2:45 pm to
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
82922 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 2:45 pm to
Posted by tilco
Spanish Fort, AL
Member since Nov 2013
13740 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 2:50 pm to
They are snake oil. I use a 4x4 block to trim my motor up for trailering. Seems to me an outboard under power in the water puts way more torque on a transom than a little bouncing on a highway.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5636 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 2:55 pm to
quote:

Seems to me an outboard under power in the water puts way more torque on a transom than a little bouncing on a highway.



Fact. Especially running in nasty chop. I trailer my boats with the jack plate up and the motor trimmed down just enough to engage the trim.

Don't trailer your boats with the flip lock up. The purpose of a flip lock on motors is to keep the lower unit out of the water without too much pressure on your hydraulics when the boat is staying in the water for extended periods of time.
Posted by Barf
EBR
Member since Feb 2015
3727 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:02 pm to
I used a regular trailer mounted transom saver on my tiller boats. Only because there was no other way to keep the motor from smashing into the steering stops or bouncing. I have a broken swivel bracket on my desk from the motor bouncing up past full tilt.

Hydraulic tilt and steering makes a transom saver more or less a mental cushion.
This post was edited on 6/7/16 at 3:07 pm
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
15064 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:09 pm to
quote:

also use chocks on either side of the steering arm to keep the motor centered


I just bought some of these today.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
82922 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:12 pm to
I quit using mine. Maybe it's the hydraulic steering, but my current engine doesn't seem to need them.
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
15064 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:13 pm to
Mine is old. I tend to go overboard with securing and rigging.

I kinda baby her, but she still looks and runs good for her age.
This post was edited on 6/7/16 at 3:32 pm
Posted by G2160
houston
Member since May 2013
1809 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:35 pm to
quote:

using mine. Maybe it's the hydraulic steering, but my current engine doesn't seem to need them.



Not needed for short trips, but after a while with the motor tilted up and using the wedege tilt support, the weight of my power head will cause the motor to start favoring one side.

This is with a fully functioning sea star steering system.
Posted by Itismemc
LA
Member since Nov 2008
4747 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:50 pm to
Posted by WHODAT514
Walker, La
Member since Mar 2012
1886 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:53 pm to
quote:

Video sync


I watched both of those videos and was like well apparently they both move about the same.

my only issue is I have a 12" jackplate so I put it all the way down when trailering. also my transom saver to the trailer would be about 3 foot long atleast.

I use the wedge and haven't had any issues. I plan on buying a motor mate soon.

ETA: as blue moons said I've watched my motor when in chop or moving and it moves a lot more than you think.
This post was edited on 6/7/16 at 3:55 pm
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
82922 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 3:58 pm to
quote:

Mine is old. I tend to go overboard with securing and rigging.
You would like these(or similar),

Posted by Itismemc
LA
Member since Nov 2008
4747 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 4:03 pm to
How do you mount those on the eyelets that come straight out, or do you just bolt next to them?
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
15064 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 4:08 pm to
Yep, those have been on my radar. I've seen some that are supposed to be "retro-fit ready."

Gonna eventually get some, I have a few bunk brackets and boards to change too.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
82922 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 4:54 pm to
Not sure. Mine were easy.
Posted by KG6
Member since Aug 2009
10920 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 5:09 pm to
A trailer mount version may offer more protection, but that doesn't mean a wedge style doesn't offer any. It reduces torque .

If you had to hold a paint can straight out, it would be tough to on your shoulder. If you put a stick from your elbow to your hip, it would take some load off the shoulder. Still you taking the whole load and not getting support from some outside source such as the floor, but it will help negate the moment arm creating the torque.

This has nothing to do with whether transom savers are needed are not. I tend to agree that a transom is seeing some crazy forces when under power. Especially in a chop when you have your props catching air and pushing a 2k lb boat at the same time. It's just that it's out of sight (at least you can't tell) out of mind.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5636 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 5:46 pm to
I agree. I've hit stumps in skinny water more times than I can count on pretty much every glass boat I've ever had and never had a transom issue. Anywhere from a squat to running hooked up. If that doesn't crack a transom, a highway won't. Next time you're in some really rough short period windchop, turn around and watch your motor. You'd be surprised how much it gets beaten up back there.

I certainly don't see any issue with using one. It can't hurt. But I don't see the need.
Posted by Citica8
Duckroost, LA
Member since Dec 2012
3671 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 6:14 pm to
This went a lot better than I thought it would.
Posted by Itismemc
LA
Member since Nov 2008
4747 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 7:52 pm to
Y'all are forgetting things are weightless in water, thats why astronauts train in pools ....:..



Am I doing this right
Posted by G2160
houston
Member since May 2013
1809 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 8:22 pm to
quote:



my only issue is I have a 12" jackplate so I put it all the way down when trailering. also my transom saver to the trailer would be about 3 foot long atleast.


I have a 12", too. No issues trailering on 3".

Regarding the outboard motions when trailering or running, there is a little slack in every moving tilt/trim/steering component, and even in the JP and transom. All of these motions you're seeing aren't necessarily indicative of transom movement, or motions going into the transom.

Sure, as a general rule, you're better off with the motor moving as little as possible, or more importantly, accelerating as little as possible.

Someone needs to tape an iPhone with an accelerometer app on it to the cowl, and repeat the test.
This post was edited on 6/7/16 at 8:23 pm
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