Transom Saver

Killertraylor · 03-19-2001, 03:46 PM

I have a 250 Yamaha Saltwater Series on my 23' North River. When you put the motor all the way up, it has a little lever that you flip down and then lower the motor so that it rests on this lever, theoretically taking the stress off the transom. This last weekend I thought I'd thumb through my owners manual for the motor (I always learn something new that I thought I knew the answer to) and the manual says to trailer the motor in the down position if possible (which I can't do - it would hit stuff) and to use a transom saver if you have to travel with the motor up. It says not to rely solely on the little lever as the motor may vibrate off the bracket and fall off - very bad...

Anyway, I think I found a transom saver that will fit - I need the long one with a bend in the middle because the cross bar on the back of my EZ Loader trailer is quite a ways forward of the transom of the boat and there is no roller to affix the transom saver to. My questions are: How many of you use these transom savers? Do they work? Do you recommend one brand over another? EZ Loader makes one for $50 which I think will work. I had a 200 hp Yamaha on my old boat and I never used a transom saver - I just rested the motor on the little flip rest and it worked fine, but I'm thinking that for an extra $50 it's probably good motor protection. What do you guys think?

Backlash2 · 03-19-2001, 03:51 PM

GET IT!! When your motor is in the up position, resting on the little bracket, all the weight from your motor is still on the transom of the boat. The transom saver puts the wieght of the motor on that cross member at the back of your trailer, a definite plus when bouncing down the road......

HOGTIDE · 03-19-2001, 04:33 PM

Hey KT,

Is your new boat a red and black NorthRiver with a hardtop? Saw one with a big outboard Yamaha blasting up the channel this weekend.
Pretty boat...unique combination.

Killertraylor · 03-19-2001, 05:49 PM

No, Hogtide - although I was out on the channel both Sat. and Sun. Mine is Blue with a Gold hardtop - full hardtop, no canvas up front. I was fishing down at the Columbia river end of the channel - mostly anchor fishing about a mile upriver from the Scappose Bay slew. I don't think I saw the red and black NR you are talking about. Mine is the only one I've seen with the full hardtop with the exception of the State Police boat down at the mouth of the Columbia - it's a twin to my boat but it's green and has an inboard instead.

SureSet · 03-19-2001, 06:57 PM

Hey KT,

If I visualize it right, Backlash2 is correct in that the weight and force from the motor is still on the transom. My boat only has a little 40hp but I still put a saver on it. The only thing the lever does is relieve the pressure of the motor on the power tilt/trim hydraulics (on mine anyway). A few big potholes or a washboard laden gravel roads will eventually take it's toll on the transom and hydraulics.

SureSet

boater · 03-19-2001, 07:12 PM

i would think that a place that sells high dollar bass boats would have what you need, since most of them run the big engines.

Killertraylor · 03-19-2001, 07:17 PM

Sureset - you visualized it right - even though the motor rests on a little lever, which protects the hydraulics, the weight of the motor is still on the transom. I'm going to go ahead and get the transom saver. Stevens marine normally stocks the one I need from EZ Loader and they think they'll get more in tomorrow. $50 doesn't seem too bad to protect a $13,000 motor and new boat.