|
|
Posts: 177
Location: Lake Forest, Illinois | I have a 8 hp 4 stroke Honda which had a custom made transom saver on it, until it was broken by a car who ran into it (without me even knowing...luckily the car didn't hit anything else!). Anyway, I am looking to replace it, and am curious what everyone else is doing or using. I am wondering if a transom saver is even necessary, or if I can simply rig a tie down some how. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | On my old Evinrude kickers I made an extension for the trim/tilt adjusting pin. It was an aluminum 1/2" X 2" block drilled to fit over the pin that adjusted trim/tilt positions with the holes in the bracket. On the block was an aluminum handle for electronic equipment, which in effect extended the pin out about another three inches from the last hole. Then I locked the motor down on this pin with the lock setting. It gave me enough clearance that I no longer had to worry about hitting sidewalks when entering and exiting gas stations. I ran a longer black rubber bungee cord around the gearcase and then around the trailer frame to keep it from bouncing and turning while trailering. Otherwise the bad bumps were enough to pop it off my bracket extension.
I don't think that the kickers have enough weight to effect the transom the way the bigger motors do, so probably a transom saver for those wouldn't be required the way I think. All you need is enough clearance and something to keep the motor from turning. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3507
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
If you have clearance at ground level to keep the motor vertical, I would say keep it that way. On my old boat, I had to put the motor in a shallow water trim placement and then tied the motor down so it would not bounce. The motor was not all that heavy (56 pounds) so I never felt it was heavy enough to bend the shallow water bracket. Now, with my 8hp 4 stroke, I am able to keep it down....lots of clearance so I just put the motor lock down and it rides well. I would tend to agree, though that on some rigs that have a shallow water launching trailer, a bracket of some sort to keep the motor tilted up a bit would be good. a transom bracket would do the job, but as stated, would be more for raising the lower unit than for protecting the transom... Easy enough to do with the board as well.
Steve |
|
| |
|
Posts: 177
Location: Lake Forest, Illinois | Thanks guys,
I think I will keep it in the down position. Even though there is a tie rod connectin gto the big motor for steering, I notice there is still some sideways jiggle on a bumpy road...I'm sure a bungy or a tie down will do the trick.
Thanks for your input,
Sean |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32926
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Many of the Walleye pros use a ratchet strap for traveling with the motor in the down position and driving on the water with the motor tilted up if the motor doesn't have power tilt. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 177
Location: Lake Forest, Illinois | ...sounds like the way to do.
thanks |
|
| |
