correct height for outboards while traveling

gokorn1

Just wondering how I should have my outboards when traveling down the road. I've owned bass boats with supports in the past,

Simplicity · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:54 am Post subject:

I've towed our boat with a Honda 135 many thousands of miles with the trim set at the spot where the lower gearing starts with no noticeable ill effects so far. Recently a couple of people recommended tilting it all the way up with the support bracket in place so I'm not so sure what the best way is either.

sweet pea · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:32 am Post subject:

If you do trailer with the motor trimmed up, you really need a support. There is a lot of stress on the transom due to flexing with the motor trimmed up and trailering.

A support device will eliminate most of the flexing as long as the transom is strapped down as well. In my opinion the lock down lever on the motor (not on all motors) from the manufacturer isn't adequate alone.

Will-C

I would say we are about half way. It kind of depends on your trailer somewhat. Coming in out out of a parking lot with a large difference in elevation between the parking lot and the street is the thing you want to watch out for. In my limited thinking you just don't want the motor bouncing around trying to work up dynamic loads to better put cracks in your transom. I just have a piece of carpet covered 2 x 4 x 18" with a lag bolt in one end going thru a couple links of chain tied to a piece of cord with a snap clip. We place the 2 x 4 in between the transom part of the motors mount and the tilting motor itself and use the power tilt to clamp down on the 2 x 4. The chain cord and clip arrangement keep the 2 x 4 attached should it ever fall out as who wants that thru your windshield. Check my album under trailer modifcations I think. We could be wrong!
D.D.

potter water

My CD 22 has twin Suzuki's. My boat mechanic says that the power head on the motor when fully tilted places the center of gravity of the motor on or slightly ahead of the motor mounting bracket such that the "bouncing" moment is vertical over the bracket. Not cantilevered over the back end, and therefore will not induce twisting motions on the motor bracket. On the other hand, with the motors down, the CG is clearly aft of the stern, and will induce a twisting or bending load on the stern when you hit bumps.

That is what he says, and he's got 40 year of experience.

I had a small trailerable houseboat that had a heavy merc 90 on an extended motor mount. The mount was a good two feet aft of the stern of the boat and the motor hung off of that. There was a huge moment arm hanging off that stern and it always bothered me, but the boat was towed thousands of miles that way. I still stowed the motor in the up position so's not to strain the mounting bits that were part of the motor itself.

Also, to finish off this tome, my mechanic says that if a stern and motor can't handle highway bouncing around, then it is going to be a weak design under motoring in heavy seas as well.

So, you pays yer money and you takes yer chances.

sweet pea · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:38 am Post subject:

I don't think you can compare transom stress of trailering to the stresses of being on the water under way. Unless you are jumping logs in the river. My mechanic would disagree with yours. You just have to read, research, and make your own mind up.

Watch the engine on the next trailered boat you pass. There is a huge amount of difference in the movement you see when trailering as opposed to underway on water.

BrentB · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:23 am Post subject:

Yamaha has an engine support
http://www.simyamaha.com/Yamaha_Engine_Support_p/mar-mtspt-ym-10.htm

This company has a wedge support
http://www.m-ywedge.com/

Nunya · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:40 am Post subject:

I've been using the mywedge for years on boats. Turned all my fishing buddies onto it. They all use it. Good product.

Montana Kev · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:02 pm Post subject:

Here is a thread with some good information on motor position when trailering.
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=12379

El and Bill · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:04 pm Post subject:

We have trailered our twin Honda 40's tens of thousands of miles by dropping them gently down onto a nice fat dowel placed horizontally across the mount. Don't know if this is best for all but an experienced boater suggested this to us more than ten years ago and so far so good - like El's grandad used to say, "proof's in the pudding."

Doryman · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:50 pm Post subject:

jennykatz · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:40 pm Post subject: outboard ht

When we trailer our cc-23 or the cd-22 (when we had it) We would tilt the motor down and have a 2by6 hold it out a little like Will-c and Halcyon does .I would not trailer a boat using the little eng hold this will break first big bump in the road . We also tie the engine from moving around . Yamaha makes a rubberized product that you can insert into tilt ram that acts as a shock absorber . Check out some of the photo albums you will see how a lot of us trailer .

Doryman · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: outboard ht

Hunkydory · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:00 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:06 pm Post subject:

I tow with a triangle type wedge in under the mounting system. It is enough to raise the skegs about 14" of the ground on the level. That has been enough to clear the parking lot and curb cuts we have been across. The engines are tilted about 30 degrees forward, and lowered onto the blocks to hold them in tight. (Comes from my Yamaha mechanics recommendation.)

Harvey
SleepyC Moon