Trailering with outboard motors

[SpringVelocity]

I am wondering how you guys position your outboards when trailering. I’ve mostly dealt with inboards when trailering. I have a kicker and a 225 Merc mounted on an aluminum pod. Do you trailer with the motors tilted all the way up or just part way. Do you use the little lock out mechanism to hold motor up or is there an after market device that is used to take weight off the hydraulics.

I trim my up about a little less then that, and I never used lock out. Never used with any of my boats.

 

[scott craven]

I trim my up about a little less then that, and I never used lock out. Never used with any of my boats.

Same

 

[Ringo]

I use the lock mechanism when driving on pavement. Have been up and down the Coquihalla and Malahat many times with no issues. When I'm trailering on bumpy/offroad or plan to get on a ferry, I use a transom saver with the main engine trimmed halfway. Kicker always down all the way.

 

[salmonkiller01]

All about what works for you and what you’re comfortable with. Regardless of position of outboard I would never trailer to Tahsis

 

[MRWood]

All about what works for you and what you’re comfortable with. Regardless of position of outboard I would never trailer to Tahsis

How about zeballos

 

[zurk]

dont use your outboard lock ever. its stictly meant for service the trim/tilt mechanism not for road use. check your owners manual.
i use an m-y wedge. just slide the rubber piece and lower the motor on to it.

m-ywedge motor support Raveling OutdoorS

Outboard motor support, transom saver, Yamaha, Mercury, Honda, Suzuki, Evinrude, OMC..

m-ywedge.com

 

[JohnS]

dont use your outboard lock ever. its stictly meant for service the trim/tilt mechanism not for road use. check your owners manual.
i use an m-y wedge. just slide the rubber piece and lower the motor on to it.

m-ywedge motor support Raveling OutdoorS

Outboard motor support, transom saver, Yamaha, Mercury, Honda, Suzuki, Evinrude, OMC..

m-ywedge.com

Insane price for a piece of rubber

 

[MRWood]

Right from the owners manual

 

[tubber]

I have enough height to travel with motors all the way down. Is this putting more or less stress on the transom? Also, when they are up, it's about $6.25 per foot extra on the ferry.

 

[tinboatrobb]

I think it would help if you mention what size these motors are.

 

[tubber]

I think it would help if you mention what size these motors are.

17' Whaler with a 50 and 15 (used what I had lying around). Been doing this for 14 years.

 

[Rain City]

I have enough height to travel with motors all the way down. Is this putting more or less stress on the transom? Also, when they are up, it's about $6.25 per foot extra on the ferry.

You could always drop them right when you get to the ferry line to solve that issue

 

[lemmy]

You could always drop them right when you get to the ferry line to solve that issue

That's what I do! Once I'm on the ferry , the punky, cedar split firewood goes back. I've been trailering to Winter Harbour for a number of years now with no problems and up to Rupert and back once. (Twin 115's)

 

[MRWood]

I have enough height to travel with motors all the way down. Is this putting more or less stress on the transom? Also, when they are up, it's about $6.25 per foot extra on the ferry.

My Merc owners manual says to trailer boat with motors down. If not enough clearance then tilt it up and use some type of support device.
I can’t keep my big motor down as the skeg would be touching the ground. I’m going to get some kind of support device as suggested by some of the fellows on here.

 

[Max123]

As others have said, as a general rule don't use the tilt lockout tab. The lockout is there as a safety for servicing the tilt hydraulics.

Etecs have a nice big beefy secondary tilt lockout that is meant for trailering - it locks the motor about 50% down

 

[Buckethead905]

Tilt your engines as far down as possible while maintaining ground clearance. The more perpendicular the engine is to the transom, the more stress it creates. Tilt your engine down, grab the cavitation plate or lower unit and see how much you can move it and shake the boat. Now tilt it all the way up and do the same thing, not hard to tell why lower is better.

 

[MRWood]

What would be a good rule of thumb for amount of ground clearance you should use?

 

[Corey_lax]

What would be a good rule of thumb for amount of ground clearance you should use?

Enough to clear the ramp when getting on and off the BC Ferries during high or low tide LOL

 

[Buckethead905]

What would be a good rule of thumb for amount of ground clearance you should use?

It would all depend on how far back the engine is from the rearward most axle on the trailer. The further the distance the engine is from the rear axle the greater chance you have of dragging it on the ground. Be cautious of going from flat ground up a steep driveway or vice versa.

 

[Aces]

I always used a 3x4 hardwood block when trailering