Trailering with outboard motors

[salmonkiller01]

Trailering stress is nothing compared to the forces put on a transom when you run the boat.
When you run your boat under power the engine are trying to lift your boat out of the water. All the stress where your engine bolts to the transom

 

[Samnjoe]

I've always trailered on the factory tilt locks. Never had a problem. When I repowered the guys at Checkpoint told me to tilt them up as required and never use the locks.

 

[M1SF1T]

I'll echo what's been said...

Read your manual, it will tell you not to use the tilt lock when trailering. Tilt lock is only used to support the motor when stationary.

Trailer with motors as full down as possible with respect to road clearance. I also use a 2x6 squeezed between my outboard and bracket to take the pressure off and distribute the weight while giving a little more clearance. Cheap, easy, effective...

This is the way AFAIC.

 

[-Jim-]

I was taught to put in a wedge shaped piece of split firewood on the old 65 HP Merc, and later it's replacement 85 HP for long distance trailering. We never had an issue in decades of pulling the Big Boat around BC (a 16 foot Larson - not big at all).

After reading this thread I decided to check out the manuals from various Motors that I & my friends have.

The 200 HP Yamaha manual (Page 68 Section 4-3) says:

The Motor should be trailered and stored in the normal running position. If there is insufficient road clearance in this position, then trailer the motor in the tilt position using a motor support device such as a transom saver bar.

The 130 HP Honda manual (Page 84) says:

When trailering a boat with the outboard motor attached, leave the engine in the normal running position, if possible.

Use a motor bar to prevent the outboard motor from moving while trailering the boat. Refer to manufacturer's instructions for using a motor support bar.

The 100 HP Mercury Service manual (Pages 3& 4 of section 6c-2) says:
The remote control (or trim panel) is equipped with a switch that is used for trimming the outboard “up” and “down”, and for tilting the outboard for shallow water operation (at slow speed) or for “trailering”. The outboard can be trimmed “up” or “down” while engine is under power or when engine is not running.

While operating “up” circuit, the ram will continue to tilt outboard to full up position for trailering.

I could find no mention of any other support for the engine required. The dual mechanical support locks seem robust on this motor. This is an old motor.

The 35 HP Mercury manual (Page 210) says: Operating "Up" circuit will first move the two trim cylinders; see "Trimming Engine 'Up'," preceding. When trim cylinders are fully extended, the tilt ram will continue to tilt engine to the full "up" position for trailering.

I could find no mention of any other support for the engine required. This too is an old motor.

One of my friends have severely damaged the skeg on a couple of his outboards (two different boats) until I finally convinced him to tilt up the motors when trailering.

Thanks to the original poster (@MRWood ) of this thread. It should make every reader of it at least think about what they do with their engines when trailering. It could save them a lot of grief.

 

[scott craven]

I could see some problems if you forgot to trim the motor up prior to launching

The Motor should be trailered and stored in the normal running position. If there is insufficient road clearance in this position, then trailer the motor in the tilt position using a motor support device such as a transom saver bar.

 

[Aquaholic]

I could see some problems if you forgot to trim the motor up prior to launching

when removing the trailer straps at the launch, I would hope the motor trim would be an obvious need.

 

[scott craven]

While trailer straps are supposedly mandatory, I see a lot of boats trailered without them.

 

[M1SF1T]

Since we're posting manuals now...

Here's from the Merc Seapro manual:

 

[chris73]

I don't know, I know many boat owners but NEVER heard any of them telling stories of motor or boat damage incurred due to trailering in tilted up and locked position. But I have heard a few stories from them about damaged motors and boats due to trailering with motor in tilted down position. I have always trailered all my boats with various different outboards over decades exclusively in tilted up and locked position and never had an issue. Yes, I do not trailer on gravel roads but I have taken boats out from Victoria to Renfrew and a road can't really get worse than that. And I clipped curbs and rocks and other obstacles with no issue. I think this is a non-issue.