best way to travel with a small outboard

[whosmatt]

quick question... i have a johnson 9.9 on a 14' skiff that i trailer around quite a bit. i don't have the owners manual for the motor, so that's why i'm asking the question here.... how should i secure the motor while trailering the boat? i have been just locking it in the 'up' position which seems ok, but i am worried that i might hit a bump and jar it enough to break the leg or the bolt that holds it in place. i can pull the trim pin and put it in the far "out" position, but that doesn't get the skeg high enough off the ground for my comfort. <br /><br />??? a basic question for sure, but i don't have the owners manual. i guess i should get one

 

[DJ]

Re: best way to travel with a small outboard

whosmatt,<br /><br />Look into a "transom saver". They're about $25.00 from Cabelas. www.cabelas.com<br /><br />Or, you can make your own.

 

[whosmatt]

Re: best way to travel with a small outboard

hi,<br /><br />thanks, i will look into that. the boat hangs off of the back of the trailer a bit, so i'm not sure that the angle between the frame of the trailer and the skeg of the motor is ideal for a transom saver. does anyone know what the owners manual recommends? <br /><br />thanks<br /><br />matt

 

[DJ]

Re: best way to travel with a small outboard

Whosmat,<br /><br />Trailering an outboard (without power trim/tilt) in the full up position is not only hard on the outboard clamp bracket, it's murder on your transom.<br /><br />The outboard tends to bounce and this action is like someone prying on the top edge of your transom with a great big lever.<br /><br />There are transom savers that are made for your situation. They have a bend in the middle to clear the bottom of your boat.