Towing With Outboard in Gear

[X19Blu]

How many folks are towing/trailering your boats with the outboard in gear? I see a few people do it just about every tournament I fish but Ive never done it before. Any advantages/disadvantages?. Thanks

[Goldstar225]

The manual for my mercury states to tow in gear to prevent prop spin/lower unit wear.

[Bob G.]

Do you guys turn the prop while putting it back in neutral to start the motor the next time you launch? It's not good to put the shifter back and forth with the motor not running. I leave mine in neutral.

[tracer1]

I tow mine in gear. Have been doing it for years. No, I don't turn the prop, just slide it back to neutral & crank. I don't put the shifter back & forth. What's hard on the lower is putting it in reverse while the motor is not running.

[Casslaw]

I asked this question a couple months ago when I saw a buddy do it. He was told that the prop spins when in neutral and since the prop isn’t in water the outer seal isn’t being lubricated. The inner seal is lubricated by the lower unit oil, outer seal by water.

I was told not to force it into gear. If it doesn’t go smoothly just turn the prop a tiny bit so the splines line up and it will go in forward.

I put my prop in a specific location and towed in neutral, as I usually do, and my prop apparently doesn’t spin while trailering so I’m staying with it in neutral while towing.

[Kodiak16]

All the props I have seen spinning going down the road are barely turning. Maybe a couple hundred RPM. Versus your 6000+ rpm when running I would think has very little impact on the life of the seals. But always go with what you manual says.

[tracer1]

Hey it's just personal preference. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. I've had several Mercury techs tell me to tow in gear. It's wear on the seals regardless if in the water or not. And yes, don't force it into gear. Walk back to the prop, take your foot ( or whatever), turn the prop slightly & put it in gear, if that's the way you want to tow it. Just use common sense, this isn't nuclear science for Pete's sake. It's your boat do what you want.

[Casslaw]

Pontoons spin pretty good since most tow with the engine trimmed down. I can certainly see that being an issue! I only have a 90 and apparently the way my boat pulls, the wind doesn’t move my prop. If yours spins in neutral I’d follow your manual. I know of one person here who’s lower unit became destroyed by the seal getting frayed while towing in neutral.

[Bob McKenzie]

Problem solved, doesn’t matter if your pro gear or pro seal.
C3FA4FF4-41B3-43BD-88D3-961C785DA6BD.jpeg

Cost $1

[Fishysam]

I like neutral since it doesn't spin

Problem solved, doesn’t matter if your pro gear or pro seal.
C3FA4FF4-41B3-43BD-88D3-961C785DA6BD.jpeg

Cost $1

[tracer1]

Problem solved, doesn’t matter if your pro gear or pro seal.
C3FA4FF4-41B3-43BD-88D3-961C785DA6BD.jpeg

Cost $1

Yep, that'll work

[pataroo]

A Man that uses his head

[mizzoukispot]

I have a 98 Merc EFI that has probably seen 20,000 tow miles. At least. Never have put it in gear. Never changed a seal. Never had a problem. Just saying......

[Transom]

Problem solved, doesn’t matter if your pro gear or pro seal.
C3FA4FF4-41B3-43BD-88D3-961C785DA6BD.jpeg

Cost $1

END THREAD

[Savage]

Neutral ALWAYS.....Never witnessed a prop spinning, with the motor in neutral and tilted up on the motor toter, while driving down the highway on the way home from a tournament.....

[fishnfireman]

I had a 280 SS on an allison that would spin at hiway sppeds with a 32 pitch RE 3 propeller.
With that said It's the only one I have ever know of on a fiberglass bass boats

[OceanSail]

A Man that uses his head

We need more of that guy

[Fishysam]

I have a 98 Merc EFI that has probably seen 20,000 tow miles. At least. Never have put it in gear. Never changed a seal. Never had a problem. Just saying......

I'm pushing 40k on my 2015, no spin here