towing boat with ETEC

[bigfish]

since the lock n stow debate is raging in the lounge I thought I would pose this...is there anyone that uses anything other than the built in motor bracket on their etec for towing...does anyone uses a transom saver or any other type of device, also is the built in motor bracket all I need for long trips, this is what is was designed for right ?????

[M_Cormier]

Built in motor bracket is all I use for my 225ho e-tech. I broke three transom savers in two weeks when I first received my new Stratos 200Pro XL and one could have damaged the boats hull or the motors LU very easily. The motor moves with the boat and trailer with the built in bracket allowing the trailers suspension and tires to absorb all impact (this is what they are designed to do). I found that with the transom saver the impact would cuase the motor to move out of rhythm/timing when compared to the boat and trailer. This caused extra stress on the motor causing the transom savers to fail. I believe the built in bracket is the best way to travel. Just another point, I was told that Evinrude/Johnson have a patten on their bracket thus you do not see it on other brands, I think of it as a built in Lock n' Stow at no extra cost.

Mark C.



Modified by M_Cormier at 7:04 AM 10/21/2006

[DoferGofer]

Ditto

[Roddy]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DoferGofer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ditto

</TD></TR></TABLE>
Dito too.

[200xp]

Thats all I use

[21ssextreme]

Now that i only use the factory motor bracket i have found that the 2 Bolts on my jack plate that were always loosening up don't anymore....I would have to give them a 3/4 turn after a every other tow...Will never go back to the transom saver...That and the other thing people don't see is the straps that hold down the boat stretch that will also give unnecessary stress on the motor with the transom saver banging up everytime the trailer hits a bump..chris

[Bassin Billy]

I don't have an E-tech but I do have a Rude and had an OMC Johnson 225HO on my last Stratos. I ONLY use the built in bracket for trailering. This does allow the motor to turn while being trailered. I for one like it to be straight. I think it looks better. Anyhow I went to Home Depot and bought 12" of 1" black rubber hose. I straightened the outboard and took a tape measure and measured both exposed steering arms. I cut 2 pieces of the hose 1/2" shorter than the exposed arm. I then split longways and popped over the arm. Now I don't have to worry about my motor turning. I only have to remember to remove them before I go out!! The motor does not like to turn when something is preventing it from doing so.

[RUSTY63]

Use the Factory Bracket.

[mead]

I use only the factory bracket. Never an issue. Like it much better than a transom saver.

[troutbeck1]

Gyus: I assume you're talking only about the bigger e-tecs, right? I have a 50 and I'm not aware of a built-in bracket. Am I missing something?

Thanks

[Bassmeister]

I can't answer for the smaller engines, Since my transom saver broke, I have used the engine bracket with no problems.

[61Woody]

I think the brackets are on 75's and up. I use mine most of the time but on long trips I still use the transom saver as I cant keep my engine from turning and even if I turn it to one side it tends to move sideways going down a bumpy road and that includes most roads around here. Thought about tying off the steering wheel but it has to much slop to do much good.

[Byrdseye]

I have to run the jackplate all the way up in order to use the factory bracket on my Shearwater or the tilt angle crimps the engine hoses. So, I cut down a 3x3" piece of cedar to the proper thickness for my boat and wedge it in place with the tilt. The motor stays solid, bounce free and I can run the jackplate at only 2". The hose/pipe trick to keep the motor from turning sounds like a good idea.

[ROBBY MEYERS]

40 50 AND THE 60HP E-TEC have the factory bracket

[GhostComanche]

Factory bracket is all that I use on my 03 DI......Roger

[troutbeck1]

Robby, where is it on the small ones. I know there's something back there with a red cap. Is that it?

Thanks.

[DoferGofer]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hawkeye &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think the brackets are on 75's and up. I use mine most of the time but on long trips I still use the transom saver as I cant keep my engine from turning and even if I turn it to one side it tends to move sideways going down a bumpy road and that includes most roads around here. Thought about tying off the steering wheel but it has to much slop to do much good. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Why should the engine turn while being towed? My engine never, ever turns when its being towed..........

[SC1800ETEC90]

I tow from Virginai to Flordia several times a year and use the built in bracket. Never had a problem and I keep my boats and motors for at least 10 years. The problem I have is with the trailers. Fenders come off, lights break etc... The trailer industry needs to keep pace with the rest of the world.

[DoferGofer]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SC1800ETEC90 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I tow from Virginai to Flordia several times a year and use the built in bracket. Never had a problem and I keep my boats and motors for at least 10 years. The problem I have is with the trailers. Fenders come off, lights break etc... The trailer industry needs to keep pace with the rest of the world.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
My boat has Anti-Feedback Steering, maybe that is why the steering on our boat keeps the motor straight while towing, and maybe boats with hydraulic steering allows the motors on those boats to flip flop as they boogie down the road.
I don't know. I do know that my XP 150 is right around twenty-one years old and has never move while in tow.

[Dae]

Melvin,

I don't know I've got the same steering in my Keywest, and my motors don't move while it's being trailered but when it comes to feedback on the water, I've got tons of it. Well, it depends on how the motor is trimmed. Trimmed to low, it pulls one way, trimmed high, it pulls the other way.

As for hydralic steering causing a motor to move, maybe it depends... I've got a twin setup on my other boat and the motors don't move while being trailered.

To be honest, I've never seen a motor move while being trailered other then some tiller motors. And that was because the fools were taking some turns really hard.


- Dae