Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
The center of gravity is at it's best location with the motor completely down. When you extend the lower unit back and away from the transom, you are essentially moving the center of gravity away from the transom. This is why you see motors that are not supported with a support bounce so much, which is hard on the transom itself.
On most fiberglass boats, the transom area for the main motor is fairly small and the side supports run well up and through the main portion of the hull along the stringers. With a small transom, it becomes very very strong. As such, the transoms can handle more weight and use of a wedge or other support like the E-tecs have will do just fine. The key is putting a little downward pressure so the motor does not bounce, while keeping the lower unit up and off the ground so you don't damage your motor on the road surface.
with Aluminum boats, though...the transom designs are much different and in many cases run the entire width of the rear of the boat. Depending on design, there may be some support that runs forward, but in most cases, there is a sandwiched composite between aluminum or in many cases a solid wood transom. Below that "board" so to speak there is a major space of aluminum only, which is why unsupported motors may have a more of a tendency to bounce significantly, and over time, has the potential to literally bend the transom back without support. In these cases, I would be more apt to run a trailer mounted transom support rather than a wedge due to the ability for the transom to flex more. Even the motor with a wedge will bounce on aluminum a bit...
Granted these transoms are built very very well, and if you get a chance, turn and watch your motor as you go through some choppy water...lots of bounce going on there as well.
Regardless, strapping the motor somehow for travel saves the transom...Aluminum boats especially...
Steve
Edited by VMS 3/16/2020 7:33 PM
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