If the engine is small enough to go horizontal, it’s riding in the back of the truck until we get where we are going.

Hence the transom saver...

Transoms are designed for a static load plus... a 90 hsp Yamaha motor weighs appx 300 lbs, the transom is designed for that constant load, in addition to the stresses of holes shots, power trim, etc. The harmonics and dynamic loads of towing in rough road conditions are far greater than on the water.

Check the owners manual for the engine some have a built in towing stablizer. My evinrude has one and it takes alot of the stress and movement away when towing.

Beat me to it. Water carries quite a load and moderates sharp jolts so motor down when afloat. Motor up with weight transfered to the trailer when towing.

I grew up on the water and have seen all sorts of damage done to boats from improper trailering. The worst long term is not securing the motor to the trailer. It'll eventually break down your transom.

If you put the transom saver on, that stress goes into the trailer.

this is the little rubber guy that came with the boat.
Hard to believe it costs 40 some bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/M-Y-Wedge-Un...nsom+saver&qid=1660873546&sr=8-1

Zim

As far as I'm concerned a transom saver should be standard equipment on a boat trailer if your going to be using anything from 25-40 hp or more on your boat.

I bought an older 17 ft flat bottom with a 40 hp. It had an aftermarket tilt/trim and someone beefed up part of the transom with braces. Previous owner said he just trailer with motor down (short shaft mounted kinda high). Those beefed up braces has broken welds from him doing so. I bought a transom saver.

Since you have the power trim, you need to use the transom saver. The bouncing up and down can cause damage to your lift cylinder!

I've always used a transom saver. Cheap insurance in my opinion.

Even with the spacer between the motor and motor mount, it's still bouncing on the transom. I've seen lots of boats with cracked transoms. I like transom savers for that reason.

There are a lot of devices that do exactly what that spacer do and connect between the outboard and the motor's mount. Everybody also calls them transom savers but they aren't. They might protect the tilt hydraulics but that's all. I want something between the outboard and trailer to really support the outboard.

The "Y" broke on my transom saver and I can weld a new Y piece to slide in. Would a piece of carpet between motor and transom Saver-":Y" be ok

My Son showed me the piece of 2x 6 between motor and hydronic rods. But now I want to fix my transom saver

Interesting thread. I have never seen a transom saver. Been hauling boats on trailers since the 60’s. I am going to have to pay attention now of boats on trailers here although most here are jet units.
I have a 200 merc and a 9 Honda on my Wooldridge and make trips to Valdez once in a while. I think the transom on the boat is built for the weight. I also put the motors on the stop on the tilt and strap across them.

Roads in Ontario need no explanation
no question....just
get one ASP

Transom savers are only good if you secure your boat properly to the trailer. If the boat shifts it can put undo stress on the transom. I’ve ran down to Louisiana a few times without one on a 350lb mudmotor. Trim it up, put block on trim ram, trim it down and tie handle off to prevent rotation and go.

This exactly. Boat and motor immobilized or moving as a single unit. If the hinge at the transom can flex because the bow is fixed and the motor foot is fixed you have a point of wear or fatigue.

Now I am looking at all the trailered boats, darn it! Anyway yesterday leaving my house heading out of town berry picking a boat on a trailer passed while waiting at the light. I saw my first transom saver. BUT it appeared that it went to the bottom of the transom. I would have taken chase for a picture but had more important things to do.

When we got home we drove to the local boat shop looking, non there. I am now dedicated to really looking into transom savers since I am a boat owner. Thanks all!

I believe transom savers are well worth using.

I used a transom saver for about a year, and it worked fine. I don't have a rear roller in the middle of the trailer, so I used the bracket and pin that came with the transom saver and attached it straight to the trailer. Worked fine, but was kind of a hassle crouching down under the boat and motor to get the transom saver mounted in the bracket. I switched to a M-Y Wedge this last year, and so far, it's been a nice change. Easy on, easy off, and no crawling under the boat/motor to attach anything. For reference, my boat is a 15.5' Lund made in 1980, and the motor is a 75HP Evinrude made in 1979. No transom work has ever been done to the boat that I'm aware of, and it still seems plenty sturdy.

*Edit to add* - Most of my trips towing the boat and trailer are only about an hour or so round-trip. The worst bumps I find along my route are normally in town, and did cause me some headache before I started using a transom saver.