Transom saver for bracket mounted engin

[SBH2OMan]

Interestingly a search of all of CP for "transom saver" returns zero results...

I have an offer in on a 2320 with the "early style" (narrow) Armstrong bracket and 250 Ox66 motor. It has lived in the water for the last five or 6 years, and I'll be hauling it out and storing it on a trailer. Given the age of the hull and the length of the bracket, I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to have a "transom saver" (either off the shelf of fabricated) to support all that weight and not have it putting stress on the transom and rear deck while the boat is sitting on the trailer and being transported.

Does anyone know of a "transom saver" made for bracket-mounted engines (a Google search hasn't turned up anything promising).

I ask because I am shopping for a trailer for the boat, and it would probably be good to know whether I'll need to fit an O/B support while I'm reviewing the options.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DaleH]

I've never heard of such a thing and don't think it's required. You could still use a 'My Wedge' type thingie to protect the motor's hydraulics though, plus use the OB trailering locks.

When buying a trailer IF indeed doing any fair amount of trailering ... make SURE to add the weight of the trailer to the full weight of your boat and gear, and then buy a trailer with enough capacity for that total weight. Your boat rigged can weigh almost 2X what the factory lists the bare hull as. Example, my 2520 is listed as 3750 'dry', but when rigged and with fuel and all typical gear, she exceeds 6,000 pounds. Add the trailer weight itself in, which would be no less than 1500 pounds, and ... you get a much higher than anticipated number.

 

[Megabyte]

The reason your search didn't turn up much on the subject is that a 'transom saver' is practically useless on a Parker.
There is just no need for one on these boats, and especially on a bracketed boat.
The transoms on these boats are built to carry the loads they carry, and trailer without issue.

Transom savers were designed for the thin hulls and transoms of bass boats carrying big motors on trailers.

But... if you still want to use a 'transom saver', you are free to do so. It just isn't something that is required on a Parker.

 

[SBH2OMan]

Good to hear it! One less thing to worry about (and buy)

Its impressive to think that ~500 lbs sitting 4' back behind the transom with a constant downward pressure, and ocassional forces probably equal to 10x that weight is being exerted on the rear of the boat and there is nothing to worry about. Wow. :mrgreen:

Now I just need to figure out the mounting arrangement for a kicker... (all the threads I find here have the later "full transom" type bracket instead of the little narrow one.

 

[grouperjim]

i fully agree with what has been posted. with the bracket the transom is at no risk from flexing.

i however do use the "my wedge" product. the reason is to protect the lower unit in case of hydraulic failure. in the full down position my lower unit will drag or hit the pavement under certain conditions such as steep inclines etc. i have had other boats where the engine would creep down on long trips. so this product gives me piece of mind in that regard. another small benefit is that if you use two of them, the hydraulic rams are covered and protected from grit and debris from towing. i tend to tow relatively long distances, so this is an issue for me.