Transom saver capacity

mommicked

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Dec 15, 2009
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I spelld it right, I read it off the pkg.! Someone I know well left the T/S on the back of the boat and it wasnt there after a recent outing:eek: So I got a new one at wallyworld, $27 woooeee! I'm using it on a G3 1860jon w F90, 370lbs. It's an Attwood SP-400-RB hooked to the trailer roller. I cannot find any capacity info and wonder if it's strong enough for the fat motor? The old one had four pads on the LU, this one is smaller, (the mount that holds the LU), and has 2 flat rubbery rectangular pads. It seems to fit well.
 
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lncoop

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Apr 18, 2010
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5,147
Re: Transom saver capacity

Uh, transom saver? I believe you mean motor deflopperizer.:p If it's the one I'm thinking of it probably won't last that long. Is the cradle where the lower unit rests V shaped? If so it will split within six months, or at least it did under my 90 horse Merc. Mileage may vary of course.
 

mommicked

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Dec 15, 2009
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Re: Transom saver capacity

Yea, it makes a V w one pad on each side. I noticed the head is not as robust as the last one. I guess I might try to reinforce it to make it last longer, maybe wrap it w a gob of ducktape! Incoop, I assume you mean the cast metal head will crack? and thanks for your reply, your always very eloquent:D
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
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Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,890
Re: Transom saver capacity

You're supposed to tilt down with moderate pressure when you use those.
Since you can't measure the pressure the tilt n trim is applying, it is likely much much more than the weight of the motor.

Mine have lasted for years, but they were like your old one, not the v style.
 

Faztbullet

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Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,938
Re: Transom saver capacity

Wasted $27 in my book.... A transom saver can actually do more damage to engine and boat due to transfer of road shock from trailering. Think about which applys more stress to transom ....a 370lbs motor hanging in the air on FACTORY tilt lock or a motor holding a 1700lbs boat on plane in rough water? Some boat manufactures do not recommend a transom saver...
 

lncoop

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Apr 18, 2010
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5,147
Re: Transom saver capacity

Here we go......:rolleyes: I have no opinion regarding whether transom savers (AKA motor deflopperizers) are inherently good or evil, but I know from experience many iboaters do. Let us earnestly seek the favor of the message board gods lest Mommicked's initial question be lost in the cacaphony that so often commences and swells to thread locking heights whenever one mentions transom savers (MDs) or tow vehicles.:eek:
 

mommicked

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Dec 15, 2009
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Re: Transom saver capacity

I have doubts that this boats transom was designed for this motors weight, first year of motors production, but that's another post. The transom was bowed in slightly when I bought it. I cannot trailor it w the motor trimed up and laying over on the top of the transome or surely damage the tilt. It has no lock, and when all down its too close to the road. Cheap cable steering lets it flop all over the place (see deflopperizer) If not held in place somehow, so I will keep using a TS. It cannot be hurting anything but the paint on the LU and the poor TS! Road shock is getting to the motor no matter what and I always carefully lower the motor into the TS just enough, 2nd switch on the side of the engine. Incoop that was priceless!!:D
 

Home Cookin'

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May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Transom saver capacity

from that description, you have problems that a transom saver won't save you from. take it back and buy a life preserver
 

mommicked

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Dec 15, 2009
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Re: Transom saver capacity

I'm no expert, But this is an aluminum jonboat which has a heavy motor on the back, max HP. It maybe a little too heavy I realize now that I own it. I dont think any jonboat transom is as strong as a glass boat unless its rated for 150+ hp. I own it now and am just trying to take care of it. It came from the dealer w a transom saver and I do not see how not using one would help anything. I'm sure damage would occur to boat and motor w/o one! My transom is sound and solid, and no weld cracks, it's just compressed slightly at the bottom of the motor mount. The transom does not flex or bend when I jounce the motor up and down and I'd like to keep it that way thankyou. The TS package said "For all outboard motors" so I got it. I'll get a better one if this one gives up.
 

scoutabout

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Oct 14, 2006
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1,568
Re: Transom saver capacity

I poo-poohed transom savers for years, also citing the direct shock of road vibrations to the transom via the engine as an unintended consequence of using them. I was also sure the engine (at least my engine, a four stroke Yamaha 90 - 390 pounds givertake), when fully tilted seemed carefully configured to put the vast majority of weight directly over the transom, thus redirecting most of the abuse from trailering directly downwards - i.e. no levering back and forth. Heck, I couldn't move the engine at all, no matter how I reefed on it in the tilted and locked position. How smug was I...

Then I noticed last spring (after 1000 miles of trailering on the lock latch alone) that the latch was actually starting to bend...:eek:. And I'm talking a hefty piece of angled steel a quarter (edit - ok, maybe 1/8th??) inch thick.

So, last weekend I got one of those TS thingies. Not sure how long it will last and it does seem to be holding an awful lot of weight. For now, I'm sleeping a bit better. We shall see how things pan out.
 

mommicked

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Dec 15, 2009
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Re: Transom saver capacity

I also have an F90. If it had a lock it was'nt there when I bought it . The tilt helps the TS hold the motors weight and I bungie both ends so the eng. cannot bounce up and down with a big bump.
 
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