Outboard up or down

[busybee]

Hi, when towing a Rib on the road should the outboard be up and turned on a side or in a straight position or if enough clearance is it better down ?
I noticed that Ribcraft put my trailer numberplate off centre on the tailboard
which might suggest engine down.

[thomas]

I tow up with the locking bar in place, my last trailer had a skeg rest so you could have it half down.

[C2 RIBS]

I always towed with engine up and lock mechanism in place until I did a job for Yamaha at Poole and we towed a rib from Hamble . Luckily Yamaha were at Hamble and told me NOT to put the engine up when towing as the lock mechanism was only for engineers working on the unit. If trailed with engine fully up they stated the forces on the transom could split it and the lock bar was not for this use.

I was shown to lower the engine to the lowest safe point so it would clear ground and also trailer board can be re sited if needed. They said that with the engine up it acted as a lever on the transom and the unit should be low as possible for safe trailing. Only repeating what manufacturers said and it seems to makes sense having done it totally wrong for years.

[mick]

My set up

[busybee]

Thanks, my engine is a Suzuki 90 but I guess Yams are the same, when I picked boat up from Ribcraft it was up but I think down must make sense, and seeing the numberplate off centre got me thinking

[karlT]

@ Disco mick

You got it all wrong mate, the boat & trailer is supposed to be behind the car

[Boats&Outboards]

I always tow with the engines trimmed down, just resting on the separate trim rams (if fitted). I don't like the forces involved when fully up and dread to think the damage caused if the lugs failed. The only thing to consider when using the ram is if they lose it's hold you can damage your gearbox. As a prevention (especially if it's your own boat) you can just lower it onto a wooden block so if it ever did fail you've got something to take the strain. Not as easy when your towing different boats/setups

Disco Mick

Not entirely sure so dont quote me on it but I think it's illegal to tow with the trailer board so high on the A Frame like that. Somebody once told me it had to be a certain height from the road ? I do it myself mind as its the most viable place most of the time!

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by busybee

I noticed that Ribcraft put my trailer numberplate off centre on the tailboard

That's probably because the tail light is also used as number plate illumination.

[mick]

Disco Mick

Not entirely sure so dont quote me on it but I think it's illegal to tow with the trailer board so high on the A Frame like that. Somebody once told me it had to be a certain height from the road ? I do it myself mind as its the most viable place most of the time!

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007[/QUOTE]
I have wondered about that my self but am not sure and will go for some wood as a safety in future

[Cypman]

The Suzuki up-lock is not designed to take the shock loads when towing, it will easily bend and fail. If you have to tow with the engine up place a wooden support between the engine and the bracket to take the load. I have used a short length of broom handle to good effect.
Ideally, the engine should be down when towing but beware of the skeg touching the ground when traversing speed humps etc. It is surprising that a 12in clearance between skeg and road surface can quickly reduce to nothing when traversing undulating surfaces.

[CJL]

Lightboards must be attached to the trailer not the load. However its more visible where it is so I doubt you'd have problems with the Rozzers!

I put a block of wood between the engine bracket and the engine when towing. This means the engine is halfway up and doesn't put load on the engine lock.

Chris

[Portnahaven]

I broke the uplock on my 8hp aux. suzuki twice. Since then i use a shortened pick axe handle with two eye screws at each end for a bungee cord - so as not to loose it. And bungeed leg to trailer.
Just on the bungee cord - i`ve had it for 19 years. It was a type of blue coloured smooth "latex" - [8mm thick], which i just happened to see at a chandlers. Came in a pack with a number of hooks. Never seen it since. Great stuff - very strong and never lost its stretch or degraded in all that time.

[uncle al]

when i towed i used to let the leg down on a thick piece of wood so the skeg safely missed the road,ands there was no strain on the hydraulics or the obm, and dont forget to cover the propeller

[Leapy]

Ribcraft told me to trailer with the engine up. So I do

[m chappelow]

If you do tow with the engine down make sure that your trailers central spine won't hammer the gearbox out of shape or at least put something between it,
Once saw some divers launch from our club slip after coming down the 4 miles or so of bumpy road and it looked like someone had took a lump hammer to it.

[ronin]

Yes. Ribcraft told me same although down tends to make sense.

Just dont forget that if you use the manual lock to release it before trimming down ... once watched a guy blow a load of hydrolic and flatten his battereis not quite understanding why his plant wouldn't drop down !!

[lakelandterrier]

Ribcraft told me to trail with engine fully up, but not on the lock, so I do. Not had any problems. I turn the battery isolator off & remove the key whilst towing to prevent any "accidents" with electrics or someone knocking or playing with the tilt. I suppose the transom has to cope with the same weight of engine whatever position it's in.

LT

[C2 RIBS]

Interesting that Ribcarft obviously see their transoms as strong enough and they have fitted loads of Yams , yet Yamaha guys who do all the shows and sales state not to keep up on road runs

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Rightly or wrongly, Engine up and on stopper. also used to put trailer board on A frame, but got told off, so now put on the extending rods from trailer.

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Interesting that Ribcarft obviously see their transoms as strong enough and they have fitted loads of Yams , yet Yamaha guys who do all the shows and sales state not to keep up on road runs

Yes, and to be fair, if you read the Suzuki manual they tell you to use a "transom saver". I think the engine guys are covering their arses