Up Or Down? How Do You Keep Your Ob Motor When Trailering?

[BrianSnat]

 I always trailed my boat with the outboard motor down. I guess I felt it would be less strain on the transom and lift mechanism that way. But I noticed other people trailering their boat with the motor up.    It seems about 50/50.

 

Not enough clearance would be one obvious reason for keeping it up, but assuming you have plenty of clearance  do you trailer your boat with the motor up or down and what is your reasoning?  

[gripnrip]

Up. Always assume you don"t have clearance when trailering. 

[Traveler2586]

Here is a good thread on this subject.   http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/112232-lock-n-stow-vs-transom-saver/

 

If you search the web on how to trailer your boat & motor ( and IMHO, you should) I think you'll find that small motors (5 - 15 hp) can be trailered down IF your trailer offers good ground clearance; larger motors should be trailered up with a good transom support.

[jherm87]

Up with a transom saver is the way to go

[Jim Mac]

Up with a transom saver is the way to go

 

I agree.

[Fishing Rhino]

Up, using a device which takes the strain off the motors tilt mechanism.  You cannot have too much clearance between the ground/road and the lower unit.  You can however, have too little.

[slonezp]

Quote from Mercury's Owners Manual

 

Ensure the outboard is in forward gear before trailering. This prevents the prop from spinning freely during transportation. Trailer your boat with the outboard down in the vertical operating position. If additional ground clearance is required, the outboard should be tilted up using an accessory outboard support device. Additional clearance may be required for railroad crossings, driveways, and trailer bouncing. IMPORTANT: Do not rely on the power tilt/trim system or tilt support lever to maintain proper ground clearance for trailering. The outboard tilt support lever is not intended to support the outboard for trailering.

[Fishing Rhino]

Quote from Mercury's Owners Manual

 

Ensure the outboard is in forward gear before trailering. This prevents the prop from spinning freely during transportation. Trailer your boat with the outboard down in the vertical operating position. If additional ground clearance is required, the outboard should be tilted up using an accessory outboard support device. Additional clearance may be required for railroad crossings, driveways, and trailer bouncing. IMPORTANT: Do not rely on the power tilt/trim system or tilt support lever to maintain proper ground clearance for trailering. The outboard tilt support lever is not intended to support the outboard for trailering.

 

I've seen that as well.  But, my guess would be that it gets them off the hook for any problems resulting from the use of a "transom saver".   The question in my mind is this.  Could a manufacturer be liable for any damage caused to the lower unit when there is a clearance problem, or does the additional clearance clause absolve them of liability?

 

Which raises another question.  Why do not the manufacturers sell a product that will support an outboard in the tilted up position?   

 

My opinion is that the owner/operator is responsible to trailer a rig safely.  That includes not driving where there is not adequate clearance between the motor and the ground, and using a device to support a motor when greater clearance may be required.

[Nice_Bass]

Always up with a savor.  Don't think I have ever seen it any other way except very small outboards.  However, I do lower it after getting home to make sure any additional water drains. 

[Fishing Rhino]

Always up with a savor.  Don't think I have ever seen it any other way except very small outboards.  However, I do lower it after getting home to make sure any additional water drains. 

 

Not a bad practice. 

 

I don't.  By the time I get everything secured and buttoned up, the motor has been in the upright position for a few minutes by the time I get to the transom saver.  The times I've had occasion to remove it in the garage, nothing has run out.

 

My problem would be that I'd have to lower it, and watch for any drainage.  Then re-install it immediately, or I'd be likely to forget it the next time I hauled it to the water.

[slonezp]

I've seen that as well.  But, my guess would be that it gets them off the hook for any problems resulting from the use of a "transom saver".   The question in my mind is this.  Could a manufacturer be liable for any damage caused to the lower unit when there is a clearance problem, or does the additional clearance clause absolve them of liability?

 

Which raises another question.  Why do not the manufacturers sell a product that will support an outboard in the tilted up position?   

 

My opinion is that the owner/operator is responsible to trailer a rig safely.  That includes not driving where there is not adequate clearance between the motor and the ground, and using a device to support a motor when greater clearance may be required.

In the litigious society we have today...Who knows? Operator error gets thrown out the window. I would imagine an auto insurance claim would resolve the damage issue. 

[MarkH024]

I have the transom saver bracket on my motor (Evinrude) and I bungee the motor tight to the rings on the back end when I tow. What ever method you do choose, it's important to know whether or not the motor is actually bouncing up and down because that could crack your transom. I'm amazed on how many guys who own boats don't know this. 
 

[WRB]

If the OB has hydrolic tilt cylinders, the motor should be supported so the load is not on the cylinders. Tilt the motor, install the device and lower the cylinder rods. This saves the tilt system and your lower unit.

Tom

[martintheduck]

I really don't understand what's going on here.... why would you travel with an $4,000+ motor DOWN and putting all the strain of bouncing around on the freeway on the transom?!?!?!? 100%... up, w/ motor support. This shouldn't even be a question!

[Traveler2586]

 I always trailed my boat with the outboard motor down. I guess I felt it would be less strain on the transom and lift mechanism that way. But I noticed other people trailering their boat with the motor up.    It seems about 50/50.

 

Not enough clearance would be one obvious reason for keeping it up, but assuming you have plenty of clearance  do you trailer your boat with the motor up or down and what is your reasoning?  

 

briansnat never stated what size motor he/she has, or any other details of the rig.  Boats with small motors (5 - 15 hp) can be trailered down IF your trailer offers good ground clearance, and some rigs with large motors if the trailer setup offers plenty of ground clearance, i.e. the guy up the street from me has a center console ocean going Grady-White on a high EZ Loader triple axle trailer that provides around 18" - 24" of clearance, but it's a BIG rig and not something a Bass angler would ever use.

 

Here is a pic of my Jon boat with a 9 hp on the back.  I never had a problem trailering it with the motor down.

[ww2farmer]

I always trailer it up with the transom saver that came with the boat/motor. On our rough back woods country roads if I left it down it probably wouldn't be pretty.

[(='_'=)]

I really don't understand what's going on here.... why would you travel with an $4,000+ motor DOWN and putting all the strain of bouncing around on the freeway on the transom?!?!?!? 100%... up, w/ motor support. This shouldn't even be a question!

 

my thoughts exactly... my uncle has a fish and ski boat, and once, he lent it to another uncle who knows nothing about boats (dont ask me why he lent it)... anyways, on the way back, my other uncle left the 85 HP Johnson down... needless to say, after the 1/2 dirt road and 2 hour highway from the lake to the house, the transom needed some serious repair, it got cracked really bad from all the bouncing... after that i dont know how people even consider not using a transom SAVER....

[Paul 1974]

On 5/23/2013 at 11:22 PM, jherm87 said:

Up with a transom saver is the way to go

What if you have a scissors trailer?

[TnRiver46]

After having $40 transom savers break over and over and over , I made one out of scrap lumber. It’s lasted several years 

[DaubsNU1]

The Rich Line boat was made in 1960...the 20hp Mercury is 1974 vintage...I picked up the boat-motor and trailer in 2000...and trailered it like this for many years....

 

 

Until...

 

I hit a bump and the motor slammed down. 

 

Considered getting a transom saver, but the Merc is pretty light...

 

So now I just keep the motor down, locked in gear. No clearance issues.

 

I did replace the transom last year...Not sure what chemicals they used on that wood...held up pretty good for 60 years!

 

 

 

[Jig Man]

Mine would drag the ground if it weren’t trimmed up.