Need for a transom saver

[j_martin]

Re: Need for a transom saver

The motor will just tilt further up assuming no power tnt.......that movement is where the energy is going......it won't hurt the motor at all.

The guy who posted this has a 15hp motor without tnt......the transom saver isn't going to hurt a thing.......the tilt lock breaking will though.

Never even thought of that. The trim system is designed to let go in the upward direction enough so you can get over a hard obstruction without tearing the motor off the transom.
So, with the rubber block in the transom saver, the rubber motor mounts, and the shock type release in the trim system, you have a very effective shock absorbing system.

No wonder my trailer and boat suffered so little damage as the trailer tongue was digging up a tar road like it was peanut butter.

John

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I have to disagree with this. You are right that it is simple physics, but you have to think about it.

With the motor tilted up it is pretty well balanced over the pivot tube. This means that the center of gravity of the motor is very close to being aligned with the plane of the transom. A jolt from a rough road will result in a downward force through the motor center of gravity and hence pretty much straight down vertically through the plane of the transom. A beam (transom) likes the weight acting right through it like this.

On the other hand, if the motor is full down, all of the mass is aft of the transom. A jolt will act again through the center of gravity which in this case is behind the transom. This case will act like the "pry bar" and try to twist the transom out of the boat because the load is acting off-center from the beam (transom).

with your motor locked in the up position grab the skeg and pull up and let it drop and then tell me the force is straight down on the transom.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

with your motor locked in the up position grab the skeg and pull up and let it drop and then tell me the force is straight down on the transom.

That is also not how the forces really act. Forces like we are talking about act through the center of gravity of an object. Take a pencil and balance it on your finger. Now give it a sharp upward jolt. the pencil will go straight up and not try to go end for end. Now try it again, but tie a fishing weight to one end and find the new balance point of the pencil/weight combo. As long as your finger is under the balance point, the results will be the same. That is because the upward jolt applied a force to the pencil, and an equal force was applied to your finger. If your finger is not under the balance point, the pencil will go end over end. Now with a motor bbalanced over the transom, the force from a bump in the road will act straight down through the transom because it acts through the center of gravity of the engine. Just like the pencil. The center of gravity is closer to centered over the transom with the motor raised than it is with it lowered. There is no doubt about that. That is also why the tilt bracket can be so wimpy. It doesn't have to hold the whole weight of the engine, only has to hold it enough to balance.

I will say that all of my posts were geared toward power trim/tilt motors and agree that a transom saver for a non-power trim/tilt motor, or tying it somehow is a good idea. If the tilt bracket folds or fails and the motor falls, the motor could be damaged, and when it hits the down stop it will put a torque load on the transom. Just as if you folded the bracket and just let the motor drop to the down position. I know that the OP mentioned a non-power trim tilt motor, and my post was not geared toward that. I appologize for that aspect.

You may all believe whatever you want to. Won't hurt my feelings one bit.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need for a transom saver

the pencil reacts as it does because it is not attached to your finger. the motor is attached to the transom. While it will try and react as the pencil does it cannot as it is attached so the transom takes the strain.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need for a transom saver

we are also not talking about a jolt from the road but the force of the prop and skeg going up when the bump is hit and then coming down. I agree with a good transom it will not cause the transom to fail on one or two bumps, but many thousands of bumps over time will help to weaken the transom.

 

[DJ]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I like transom savers. I use them. BUT a transom saver is useless, even harmful unless a couple things are done.

1. The boat must be tied down securely.

2. The boat and trailer must become one piece. See #1.

If you follow 1 & 2, the saver takes any stress off of the transom and delivers it to the trailer. The trailer has a suspension (springs) the boat does not.

Things "flopping around" breaks stuff.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

the pencil reacts as it does because it is not attached to your finger. the motor is attached to the transom. While it will try and react as the pencil does it cannot as it is attached so the transom takes the strain.

Then attach it to your finger. It will act the same whether it is attached or not as long as the center of gravity of the pencil is where your finger is.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

we are also not talking about a jolt from the road but the force of the prop and skeg going up when the bump is hit and then coming down. I agree with a good transom it will not cause the transom to fail on one or two bumps, but many thousands of bumps over time will help to weaken the transom.

I already said:

"I will say that all of my posts were geared toward power trim/tilt motors and agree that a transom saver for a non-power trim/tilt motor, or tying it somehow is a good idea. If the tilt bracket folds or fails and the motor falls, the motor could be damaged, and when it hits the down stop it will put a torque load on the transom. Just as if you folded the bracket and just let the motor drop to the down position. I know that the OP mentioned a non-power trim tilt motor, and my post was not geared toward that. I appologize for that aspect."

So, I am agreeing with you in regard to non-power trim/tilt motors. Not however for the ones that do have power trim/tilt.

 

[DJ]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I already said:

"I will say that all of my posts were geared toward power trim/tilt motors and agree that a transom saver for a non-power trim/tilt motor, or tying it somehow is a good idea. If the tilt bracket folds or fails and the motor falls, the motor could be damaged, and when it hits the down stop it will put a torque load on the transom. Just as if you folded the bracket and just let the motor drop to the down position. I know that the OP mentioned a non-power trim tilt motor, and my post was not geared toward that. I appologize for that aspect."

So, I am agreeing with you in regard to non-power trim/tilt motors. Not however for the ones that do have power trim/tilt.

Ever have a hydraulic failure on the trim/tilt system? I have. I saw the engine drop in the rear view mirror. I caught it before the skeg was completely gone.

It was a 1995 Suzuki 140 with external hydraulic lines. One of the lines failed at the manifold.

Gawd I hated that motor.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Ever have a hydraulic failure on the trim/tilt system? I have. I saw the engine drop in the rear view mirror. I caught it before the skeg was completely gone.

Ok. This is getting ridiculous. In one of my other posts I said I was considering a lock-n-stow and would do this before I did a transom saver. The lock-n-stow would prevent what you are talking about. On top of that you would need a hydraulic failure as well as a failure of the tilt lock. My problem with the transom savers is their potential to put stress on engine components and the boat in the event that the boat moves on the trailer. Talking about tying it securely is great, but I can throw scenarios too. Have you ever seen a winch post move, or fold. How about a boat trying to climb the bow stop during a panic stop. What about that one time you don't get it winched up quite all the way. The next stop will be putting the boat forward on the trailer. That is my concern. As I said these concerns only apply to power trim/tilt systems.

 

[DJ]

Re: Need for a transom saver

Ok. This is getting ridiculous. In one of my other posts I said I was considering a lock-n-stow and would do this before I did a transom saver. The lock-n-stow would prevent what you are talking about. On top of that you would need a hydraulic failure as well as a failure of the tilt lock. My problem with the transom savers is their potential to put stress on engine components and the boat in the event that the boat moves on the trailer. Talking about tying it securely is great, but I can throw scenarios too. Have you ever seen a winch post move, or fold. How about a boat trying to climb the bow stop during a panic stop. What about that one time you don't get it winched up quite all the way. The next stop will be putting the boat forward on the trailer. That is my concern. As I said these concerns only apply to power trim/tilt systems.

Ridiculous-YES. But who is hot under the collar? Not me.

If I have a winch stand move or fail, that is simply poor maintenance, on my part. If I don't put the boat on the trailer correctly, again, my fault.

I had that one failure. A transom saver would have relieved me of a lot of grief.

I don't like tilt locks because they allow the engine to bounce around a lot. The best scenario is to have the engine full down and locked. However, todays low slung trailers don't allow for that, in many applications. That's actually a good thing. Low trailers tow better and don't need to be backed into the drink so far for loading/unloading.

If you don't like transom savers, so be it. Don't use one.

We both have our opinions. Opinions are just that-opinions.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I'm not hot under the collar. I'm actually quite cool sitting on the back porch in the quiet listening to the crickets. Ain't wireless great. I know that I'm not going to convince you, and you aren't going to convince me, but if we both lay out our individual reasoning then others can make thier own decision.

One thing I will disagree about in your last post is that a motor with power trim/tilt and lowered against the tilt lock won't bounce around unless the trim/tilt fails. Again non-power tilt will bounce and should be tied or transom saver or something.

I guess one thing is the name "transom saver". I feel this is not a good name because it is really a "motor saver". In my opinion, if it saves your transom, your transom was already past due for replacement.

 

[DJ]

Re: Need for a transom saver

I'm not hot under the collar. I'm actually quite cool sitting on the back porch in the quiet listening to the crickets. Ain't wireless great. I know that I'm not going to convince you, and you aren't going to convince me, but if we both lay out our individual reasoning then others can make thier own decision.

One thing I will disagree about in your last post is that a motor with power trim/tilt and lowered against the tilt lock won't bounce around unless the trim/tilt fails. Again non-power tilt will bounce and should be tied or transom saver or something.

I guess one thing is the name "transom saver". I feel this is not a good name because it is really a "motor saver". In my opinion, if it saves your transom, your transom was already past due for replacement.

109,

Wireless is awesome. I'm doing EXACTLY the same thing. Amazing isn't it?

I didn't mean to incite a range war. We just disagree. I'm good with that.

And, you are correct, it IS a motor saver.

Cool?

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need for a transom saver

whether it is a motor saver or a transom saver it not the issue. A person asked whether we thought it was a good idea in HIS SITUATION. We need to talk apples to apples and not apples to oranges. I still say I think they are good ideas not matter what your set up is.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Need for a transom saver

From an I/O point of view....would you go down the road with yours down?

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Need for a transom saver

mine would sit to low to go down the road with it down. In theory if the trailer lets it sit high enough yes.

 

[109jb]

Re: Need for a transom saver

whether it is a motor saver or a transom saver it not the issue. A person asked whether we thought it was a good idea in HIS SITUATION. We need to talk apples to apples and not apples to oranges. I still say I think they are good ideas not matter what your set up is.

I already agreed that non-power trim/tilt motors would benefit from either tying the motor down, or using a transom saver or some other way to secure the engine. The original question has been answered and opinions given in enough detail that the original poster can make his own decision. However, this topic has grown beyond the original question as many topics do. That's just the way open forums work. I think the recent posts have been clear as to power and non-power trim/tilt systems. I know I have tried to make my recent posts clear on this and see no problem with that approach. Lastly, I still think that a system like the lock-n-stow is better for a boat with a power trim/tilt system than a transom saver because of the potential for motor and transom damage if the boat moves in relation to the trailer.