Alternitive to transom saver?

[Wee Hooker]

I've got a 16' aluminum V hull with a 190# 30 hp ( with power trim) hanging on the transom. Issue is that with the (long) leg down, the skeg is 4" off the ground. I trailered the rig home with the trim pin moved to the top hole which bought me maybe another 2" clearence. I'd like to get the skeg higher for those rough/pot holed new england ramps but really don't want to be hassled by installing /uninstalling a transome saver every time. ( I also don't think the motor is heavy enough to warrent such a device.) I was thinking of making something that just fit /dropped in between the leg and bracket (where the trim pin is.) Anybody got a solution/ideas?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

you have 190 LBS, tettering on top of the transom, and single axle trailer ride rough. get a transom saver, it is just that. stop destroying your transom.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

I have a 105 pound 25hp on my 14' Jon and I use a TS purely to get some ground clearance. I only takes a few seconds to remove a replace when at the ramp.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Removing and re-attaching a transom saver takes, at most a couple of minutes. Not that big a deal.

As for size, I use one on my 58 pound 6 hp outboard on a 12' aluminum boat. Overkill? Not really. I added it when I looked in my rear-view mirror and noticed that the outboard was bouncing on one of the roads I use to get to my favorite lake.

What's $25 and a couple of minutes? Now, the outboard stays still.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Both my Merc 30 hp and the 40 hp's Merc manual recommend a TS and not to rely on the bracket that you can flip up and move the O/B down.

I too hated to look in the review mirror and watch the O/B bouncing all over.

I also bought this rubber block for about $40 with shipping designed to clip onto the piston shaft and then you move O/B down on it. It still letn the O/B bounce so I went back to a TS. I wasted my money!

Best thing about the TS is the other end is against a roller or slid on a bolt attacehed to the frame. This takes the pressure off the transom and the trim pistons.

Once you've put the TS on and off a few times, as the others have said it only takes a minute!

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Get the saver. The 2 minutes that CATransplant claims to put his on is really milking the job<grin>. Mine is on in less than 30 seconds. It takes far longer to put the tie downs on than to do the transom saver.

TerryMSU

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Ok , assuming I give up and get a TS, are there any that are easier and faster to install? I have a bunk trailer with no keel roller. My buddy has one that needs to be pinned on/off on his trailer and it's a real PITA ( not to mention too many parts to lose.)

 

[Expidia]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Ok , assuming I gave up and get a TS, are there any that are easier and faster to install? I have a bunk trailer with no keel roller. My buddy has one that needs to be pinned on/off on his trailer and it's a real PITA ( not to mention too many parts to lose.)

I bought a keel roller that comes on a bracket. I mounted it upside down so the TS c shaped end goes on it. I too did not want to deal with the pin setip.

The roller setup is a lot faster for me. It's not shown in the pic but you use a short length of a rubber bungie that goes into the top hole around the roller and hook it into the bottom hole, so you don't lose it on a bump:

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Get one of these! You won't regret it. I had the same issue and this is what I got. Once you mount the bracket, it goes on and off with a quarter twist. No bungee on the bottom end, just bungee it to the motor leg on the top. Lower the motor until it rests on the saver.

http://www.iboats.com/Adjustable_Transom_Saver/dm/keywords.transom saver--view_id.37977

TerryMSU

 

[22E6441]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

I have that Panther TS on my 35 HP Chrysler. Works very well...comes off super fast. IMHO way more secure than those roller mounts....power tnt be damned....I wouldn't trust one.

 

[lonemust]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

My frame is about a foot to 18" under the boat The carpeted rails are at the transom. how would I go about using TS in situation?

 

[22E6441]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

The panther ts linked is "bent", and it's adjustable. I'd bet it would work just fine. Twist it in, lift it up, strap your engine in....good as gold.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Thanks to all who answered. looks like the Panther (from iboats) as recomended by TerryMSU and 22 is the way to go for me. It will allow me to get at my crossmember and mount/unmount without getting on my knee's to pin the unit.
Actually considered twisting the mount on a swivil-eze type so that the TS could just fold out of the way when not in use but don't feel like taking a chance on the experiment.

 

[marquette]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

i use one of the panther TS and it goes under my boat to a crossmember on my trailer that is 18-20 inches under the boat no problem. and i have a CMC T&T unit on my motor setting it back another 4-5 in. i put the T&T unit all the way down and then use the tilt mechanism on the motor to release the motor up to go on the TS. i never see my motor move when i am trailering and i gained at least 4-5 in of ground clearance for the skeg.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Alternitive to transom saver?

Follow up; Well, I got sold on the panther TS until I measured the boat. My xmember is only 8" under the boat and it turns out that a straight TS would fit my aplication better. Also turns out I needed only 22" of length to get to a 12" optimal skeg height. Unfortunatly, the Panther sold here was offset and 28" min. A little net research turned up VE-VE brand Transom Savers. Apparently they are (or claim to be) the USA based originator of the Panther design. Ordered company direct and got their TS-81. Straight shaft, 21-31", same mount system as Panther. Perfect!

Thanks again to all that sold me on the idea of the TS and the Panther design. Didn't realize that it would be this painless in the end.

Dave