Hey, Twin Engine Guys?

**Captn C** · #1 05-27-2004, 11:40 AM

How many of you use "Transom Saver" when you trailer your boats?

I am hearing from Tracker Marine and Bass Pro Shop that they thought the reason my transom is falling apart is becasue I don't use transom savers to haul the boat 100 yards from the shed to the boat ramp.

BTW- I plan to send a link to this to Tracker Marine Group, so hold the BS to a minium. I would also like to know what type of boat you use and what power you have on the back.

OMT- If you are not famialr with my boats problem they can be see at:

http://forum.classicseacraft.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB3&Number=14836&page=0&v iew=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=all

Thanks for any info you guys pass along to me!

**Ernest** · #2 05-27-2004, 11:58 AM

The force being applied to your transom by the trailer ride is essentially nothing compared to the force being applied as you run the hull through the water in the gulf. Think about running 30 mph in a stiff chop. Light weight bass boats are perhaps a different situation, but your boat is specifically designed to run in rough water.

Additionally, the transom saver transfers all of the road shocks to the lower units of your engines and concentrates the forces over a very small area.

Never used them, never will, and never had a problem. My typical trailer trip was 65+ miles each way over Houston roads, the worst roads west of Lousiana.

**teckersley** · #3 05-27-2004, 12:10 PM

I have to say BS on that. Our boat has no problems with twin 225 Mercs and it has never seen a transom saver. I have heard about your problems elsewhere on other Anglers so I think it is a manufacturer problem. What I have heard has always been on the longer twin engine models.

**Bret** · #4 05-27-2004, 12:48 PM

I agree with game on . BS. I have twin 150's on a bracket, and I trailer from Dfw to Port A and have not had any problems. Now, I do attach my boat to the trailer with a come-along on the bow, and a Big ratchet strap across the stern. I think that as long as a boat is secured to the trailer well enough, the springs on the trailer take most of the beating. I followed the thread on your dilema. Man, I sure hope they get this taken care of. So What is the latest with your boat? Are they still trying to repair it or are you getting a new hull??

**JimN** · #5 05-27-2004, 12:54 PM

Towed boats for over 20 years, never used them. Someone would have to show me the measured stresses in a 3-4' chop vs. on a trailer before I'll believe that transom savers are anything more than cute marketing. I do think that they are a great safety device, if towing on the cylinders instead of the tilt locks. A leaking cylinder can lead to dragging the lower unit.

I've hit rogue waves bad enough to break things (tackle boxes, rods) in the boat. Never hit a bump on any road that was close.

Just my two cents

**JOKERSWILD** · #6 05-27-2004, 01:22 PM

Got a 25 cat with over a 1000 lb hanging on the back and not a crack
sounds to be the last quack of a cooked duck.They are just trying to worm out of a new hull and are comming up with some sad support......
Good luck my hopes are with you.

**James Howell** · #7 05-27-2004, 01:27 PM

That may be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I have made several round trips to Venice, La and Biloxi, MS on the worst stretch of highway on the planet (I-10), and have had no problems with the twin 200 yamahas hanging off the back of the Contender. All a transom saver does is take the stress off your hydraulic tilt and trim unit and keep your lower unit from showering sparks on the vehicle behind you, it does nothing for the stress produced by the engine on the transom while trailering.

**Captn C** · #8 05-27-2004, 01:38 PM

Keep'em coming...I have told them the same thing.

Bret,
They have not told me yet what they plan to do, but I am sure they will want to try to patch it again.....I am done with that. I have already made peace with the fact that I am not going to have a boat this summer and I have told my SKA and TKA team that we are going to be on the side lines this year.

Speaking of TKA .....James where were you last Tuesday night?

**FishinTheBarge** · #9 05-27-2004, 02:02 PM

the two words.. Tracker & Bass...

When one makes a bass boat and the other fights as tough as a hardhead. They both make me laugh.......

**SabineStalker** · #10 05-27-2004, 02:04 PM

While I think that in your case that is pure ****, I do use them. I live on a bumpy dirt road with potholes. I wouldn't travel without one. I believe that when you hit a good bump, it will stress the heck out of a transom, it just makes since. As to rouge waves doing the same thing, yes, but why put more stress on the transon that you dont have too. If I didn't live where I live, I may think different, but I'll stay using mine. Just my opinion.