Transom Savers

[LundLover]

For you guys with the bigger outboards, do you use transom savers? I bought mine when I bought the boat. It has worked fine for me for years. Just wondering if they are really necessary.

[Scott Eveland]

Yes.

However, my local Merc shop (Spahn Marine) talked me into trying one of these:

Swivl-Eze Lock'n Stow - iboats.com

I really like it, and it keeps the tension between the boat and the transom, rather than the trailer. Modern boats are supposed to be better designed to handle the torque, so this saves the "bounce" that is more likely to occur between the transom and the trailer.

['Eye Finder]

I have one for my main motor and use it every time I trailer the boat anywhere.

[gn83tm]

Scott,
Does that bracket just go in between the motor (mid section) and the transom mount? If that's the case, it's really just keeping the pressure off the T/T cylinders but still putting a load on the transom, correct?

I agree that most modern boats are well-designed to carry the outboard load while trailering and when the motor is up the weight is probably closer to being centered above the tramsom than when the motor is down. I don't have a transom saver on the boat I just got but I'm planning on getting one since I don't see how it could hurt anything. Unless....it pops off the trailer end while going over some rough railroad tracks, and it's still tied to the motor with a bunge cord, so it rams itself into the ground and bends itself up pretty good.... Don't ask me how I know this but fortunately it doesn't always result in motor/boat damage

[Scott Eveland]

Originally Posted by gn83tm

Scott,
Does that bracket just go in between the motor (mid section) and the transom mount? If that's the case, it's really just keeping the pressure off the T/T cylinders but still putting a load on the transom, correct?

I agree that most modern boats are well-designed to carry the outboard load while trailering and when the motor is up the weight is probably closer to being centered above the tramsom than when the motor is down. I don't have a transom saver on the boat I just got but I'm planning on getting one since I don't see how it could hurt anything. Unless....it pops off the trailer end while going over some rough railroad tracks, and it's still tied to the motor with a bunge cord, so it rams itself into the ground and bends itself up pretty good.... Don't ask me how I know this but fortunately it doesn't always result in motor/boat damage

You are correct. "Transom saver" probably isn't the best term for it, as it still puts pressure on the transom, but that's still what they call it. However, it is designed to better protect the cylinders and keep the motor from moving unnecessarilly, as it moves with the boat, not the trailer.

It made perfect sense to me, especially considering the amount of people who don't use any transom saver, and you don't see too many of them snapping off in modern boats.

[thumpper]

The 'new' boat I have I don't use one. It's a 60hp merc and I just put a piece of wood between the engine and the brackettry for better words to help it.

The hydralics on this boat 'pull' the motor down it doesn't let the motor down like our previous boat.

On our prevoius boat we would put the transom savor on (goes to the trailer) and then continue to run the hydralics till they 'bottomed' out and was completely in. (hard to describe) The engine would then be resting and strapped solely to the transom savor.

[ArizonaNative]

I use a transom saver that goes between the outboard and the trailer. I'm not a big fan of the type that sits in the motor clamp. The logic that the boat is bouncing/moving on the trailer and therefore the outboard to trailer "transom saver" is ineffective is a bit silly unless those people don't believe in strapping down the boat very tight.

Here's how I do it:
Strap the boat down
Tilt the motor up enough to position the transom saver
Lower the motor until there's tension on the transom saver but not "bottomed out". If you bottom it out, the transom saver can't absorb any movement of the outboard from bumps in the road and what not.

[Scott Eveland]

AZ- I see what your're saying, but I've also always been taught not to tighten the boat down as hard as you can, lest you cause undue stress to the fiberglass (apparently not an issue for aluminum???). I dunno, maybe that line of thinking falls in the "old wive's tale" category?

I'm far from an expert in this area. I went with the motor style upon recommendation from a local Merc dealer. Maybe he sold me a bill of goods, as it was higher than the old school transom saver...

Where's a mechanic/dealer when we need one...

Thumper- On that new Lund I got for work this summer, the transom saver was a piece of rotting 2x4 jammed under the motor. Came just like that from the dealership. Maybe they know something we don't know.

[ArizonaNative]

Originally Posted by Scott Eveland

I've also always been taught not to tighten the boat down as hard as you can, lest you cause undue stress to the fiberglass (apparently not an issue for aluminum???). I dunno, maybe that line of thinking falls in the "old wive's tale" category?

Well there's a world of difference between cranking the thing down as hard as you can and tightening enough to secure the boat to prevent movement and bouncing.

All that said, I think an outboard puts a lot more stress on the transom when it's in the water and trying to rip itself off versus being towed down the road. I will still use my transom saver though, because if nothing else it surely helps a little and at minimum keeps the motor straight.

[Hookem]

Originally Posted by LundLover

For you guys with the bigger outboards, do you use transom savers? I bought mine when I bought the boat. It has worked fine for me for years. Just wondering if they are really necessary.

After a couple negative experiences over the years NOT using one, I learned for what a transom saver cost it's well worth having one. Cost minimal and possible savings great!! Helps eliminate any question and worry! So why not!! I'm a believer in them now!!

[fishhunter44]

Has anyone tried these??

Outboard Motor Boat Transom Saver-Replacement

Jason Tomich uses these and loves em. I contacted the proprietors of this product and gave them a couple opportunities to sell me on them, and they did a real bad job. My big concern is that even though the outboard seems to be more balanced on the transom (because you have to trim it up so far to get the product placed on outboards that have a single piston trim, like my 60hp), you still have some bouncing. What do you guys think?

[fishnguy]

A trailer to engine transom saver is great protection for most all boats.
25-50 bucks.

[ProFishingSupply]

I always use a transom saver on my big motor.

Lots of guys ignore their kicker motors on big boats. or small motors on small boats. Bouncing will bend the brackets (been there myself, lesson learned the hard way). Even if you don't run a transom saver on those smaller motors, you should strap the lower unit to the trailer frame to stop the bouncing ... it saves wear and tear on the motor brackets as well as the transom.

[papaw t]

I have been using a saver for about 10 years. Mine has a spring load in the shaft so there is movement and support from motor to trailer. Don't over draw it down, just enough to compress the spring about halfway. Have never had a problem since using one. Personally I would never go without one. Mine is on a 90 hp Evinrude.

[scouty]

Ive got a new kind of transome saver ,its called a- MY-WEDGE , last summer we got to the lake and i went to remove the old trans sav. and the t-saver had come out,and drug behind the boat for at least 10 miles! so needless to say, it was toast. i went online and did a search and found the my-wedge it was fairly reasonably priced and seems to do the same job as the 4ft old one did, only the my wedge is "6-inches long" and pops over the hydrolic shaft, then you lower the motor, till snugg! now the motor stays straight too. when i get to the lake i thow it in the transome -pit til we go home.......... do a search and u'll find it my -wedge