Transom Savers!

[Simon B]

Reading through our Yam 100 4 manual (got engine 2 years ago) they mention transom savers being used if you are unable to tow with the engine in the running position (curious idea, must fit tractor tyres to allow this!)

I've seen the item from a number of sources, question is does anyone use them? if so, how and are there wonderful advantages to doing so.

[Simon B]

So no one has ever heard of them!!?

[Alan]

Do you mean the metal bar thingy that you are supposed to use to prop your engine up when trailering? Most engine manufacturers recommend you use one rather than just use the tilt lock but a large piece of wood does the job just as well and is a darn sight cheaper!

[Simon B]

Does the block of wood act as a prop propping up the engine leg with its "foot" end resting on a trailer member?

Or does the lump of wood get jammed in the gap between the mid section and the transom mount?

I would have thought the latter might put strain on the pivot as it is trying to break the back of the hinge.

[Alan]

The bit of wood gets jammed between the saddle bracket (on the transom) and the outboard leg itself. Basically power the outboard up on its tilt mechanism and then power down to wedge the bit of wood in place. Common enough method I think.

[Simon B]

I'd heard of this method but never seen it, forgive my lack of experience, does this have the effect on the transom pivot similar to shoving a block of wood in the hinge side of door? I know that can rip the hinge out.

From pictures of these transom saver thingies it looks as though some sort of damper is built in. In which case why dont people fab them up out of old shockers and some nuts and bolts?

Previously fellow club members have put the engine up onto the trailer lock then backed off the ram leaving (in my opinnion) the risk of the engine bouncing up then crashing onto the trailer lock possibly trashing it.

[Surferdude]

Here is a photo link to the one I use:
http://images7.fotki.com/v157/photos...230070a-vi.jpg

It saves the transom when you trailer the boat. My engine is over 400 lbs. and it sits fine on that small bar. The bar comes off with a pin. They are not much money and they have the rubber pads for the engine side.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Simon B

Reading through our Yam 100 4 manual (got engine 2 years ago) they mention transom savers being used if you are unable to tow with the engine in the running position (curious idea, must fit tractor tyres to allow this!)

I've seen the item from a number of sources, question is does anyone use them? if so, how and are there wonderful advantages to doing so.

Hmmm. First post on this forum, I think.

The Transom Saver is supposed to remove some of the load from the transom, and transfer it back to the trailer frame. It also will protect (to some degree, anyway) the trim/tilt mechanism, which is normally supporting the weight of the motor as the trailer/boat rig bounces down the highway.

The better ones (or more expensive, anyway) have a spring loaded system that supports some amount of weight, but allows a slight amount of bounce without pounding, unlike the block of wood system mentioned earlier.

For my boat (sorry guys, just a 14' SIB with a 40 hp Honda) removing some of the weight of the motor is important, but, being tiller steered, locking the motor in the center position is even more so. Since the Honda Steering lock is grossly under-engineered, I have gone to a spring centering system to hold the motor near center (to keep it from bashing back and forth while trailering.)

Does it work? I think it's sort of like seatbelts: You can postulate all you want, but you won't know for sure until you don't use them when you needed to...

jky

[limeydal]

Well worth the cost I think to get one!.
I use one to transfer the weight to the back roller (you can get ones that mount to a bracket attached to the trailer also) Mine is attached with a rubber strap to the engine leg;so doesnt come loose if you hit potholes and loose the saver.
My RIB took a "little trip "down a hill on its own when the trailer "escaped".
It bounced over a low wall and down the road.
Unluckily the back end hit a rock in a neighbours bank and the skeg still was brocken.
However; minor compared with if the whole engine leg had dropped down and been hit!!!
Easy enough to make one out of a bit of tube if they are expensive over there or hard to get;(like the idea of using a shocks )
cheers Dal

[Swifty]

Limeydal,

I'm intrigued as to why you put a bilge pump on the outside to pump water in?

We normally do it the other way round!

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Swifty

Limeydal,

I'm intrigued as to why you put a bilge pump on the outside to pump water in?

We normally do it the other way round!

My guess would be something to do with a livewell and fishing?

[limeydal]

Thought I was doing something wrong!
Actually it is for a live bait tank that sits behind the pods and circulates fresh water to it.
Have a cast net that i can trap a tank full of small baits with a couple of throws and then off to the kelp beds to catch some Yellowtail
OK ,havn't actually caught one yet! but getting close
(Catch Bonita/barracuda/sculpin/halibut)
You can see the tank below. I made it interchangeable with a lockable bin. So installed for fishing and then the bin goes in for cruising for storage,
cheers Dal

[rikado]

Simon

I happen to agree. I think that towing with 260lbs of motor cantilevered off the transom without any support is a disaster in the making. Jamming a piece of wood so close to the pivot is not the answer - but it seems that nobody in the UK sells transom savers. There are several different types readily available in the U.S. The only thing I can think is that Brits are too mean to buy one, but it seems like a false economy to me. You can take it from this that I think transom savers are a good idea.

Rikado

[biff]

Originally Posted by Swifty

Limeydal,

I'm intrigued as to why you put a bilge pump on the outside to pump water in?

We normally do it the other way round!

so am i

[limeydal]

circulates water to the bait tank. See two posts back with photo.
Also I carry a length of hose ,so in case the bilge pump fails (yes i have that one on the inside ) then I can slide off the bait tank pump and drop it into the sump and its ready to act as a manual bilge pump.
cheers Dal

[Hightower]

Can't see the point of a support between the outboard leg and trailer, it's a waste of time and money IMHO!

[limeydal]

Andy,
I'm no engineer, but just went on experience from my earlier SIBS.
Whenever I was trailering the SIB without one;I could easily see the flex on the transom area as I bounced along.So must be producing uneccessary wear and tear.
I know the RIb with its integral hull is a lot stiffer ,but just seems that anything that takes the weight off the leg and transmits it directly to the trailer;has to help.
You have to hold it up anyway,whether block of wood or transom saver;so I find it does the job for little cost.( Also IMHO)
cheers Dal

[Hightower]

I'm of the opinion that If one jumps waves and has a lot of power going through the transom whilst accelerating a 750kg/something boat to max speed then the gentle bouncing a trailer dose on the road is pretty mild in comparison.

I agree that if you can't prop a outboard clear of the road then a support leg is the way to go, but not between the trailer and leg. Put it between the transom and leg as I would worry that any movement of the boat on the trailer might damage the leg during transit.

As most modern outboards have hydraulic trim and tilt, why not just rely on this to keep the outboard up whilst in transit? Hydrulics are very reliable and designed to take a lot of abuse.

[timboli]

See http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....highlight=f100
I had a problem through using the tilt support pin,eventually I was told just to use the hydraulics as a transom saver wasnt readily available.I used a metal bar sheathed in rubber pipe eventually located through the bracket forward of the hydraulic ram but this wasnt ideal as it marked the bracket.

[yoyo]

..