Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

How do you guys support your outboards while in transit?. I went with a third toon and I cannot use the standard supports that mount to the base of the trailer because the third toon won't allow the correct angle. Are there motor clips I can get for the outboard. I have a Merc 150 4 stroke.

Boatman wrote:How do you guys support your outboards while in transit?. I went with a third toon and I cannot use the standard supports that mount to the base of the trailer because the third toon won't allow the correct angle. Are there motor clips I can get for the outboard. I have a Merc 150 4 stroke.

I have a little 50 horse on the back of mine. I just let it dangle down all the time on a bunk trailer. The chicks dig it.

Sorry not much help, but I amuse myself.

I use a ratchet strap. With the outboard raised, the strap hooks to the left side of the stainless steel ski pylon, wraps back under the anti ventilation plate on the lower unit and hooks to the right side of the stainless steel pylon. This works quite well with this type ski pylon since it is anchored at 2 places on the top left side of deck and 2 places on the top right side of deck.

That would be a good idea but we didn't get a ski pylon. Any other ideas out there?

boatman, there are a number of ways to go with this.. motormate is supposedly one of the best on the market and I'm pretty sure you can use this on your 150 merc.... also take a look at lock n haul, and my wedge. Personally I like the motor mate... I bought one for my son and this thing is sweet.. it's expensive... Actually got behind a guy pulling a pontoon down the road last year and he was using a motor mate and his motor didn't move a bit... no sway to either side..... I want to get one for my boat but they don't make one for a yamaha 75 4 stroke, but pretty sure they do for your merc... lot of people also like the lock n haul and it's considerably cheaper....

As long as ground clearance isn't a problem it's often recommended to trailer the motor in operational position. That's how it was recommended on my past Honda, current Yamaha, and this straight from Mercury.
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I lower mine down on a 3" diameter chunk of PVC tubing to kick it up a bit and help damper vibrations and shock. Dont know if it really helps or not but its easy to do.

Boatman you can get this for your Merc, if a standard Transom Saver won't work... http://www.m-ywedge.com/ But, I tried it on the Etec. First time on, it lasted about 200 miles on the Manitou's last trip to the Ozarks. Stopped to get gas in Palmyra (my usual gas and go stop) checked the boat out and it was gone. Thought I felt something going back there right after we crossed the border. Had my old transom saver in the truck yet, tossed it on. So much for trying out something new! The Premier has the same, http://www.attwoodmarine.com/store/prod ... heavy-duty that I had on the Manitou.
http://www.attwoodmarine.com/store/prod ... nsom-saver is bent, to help out in your case, can check into that~
Mike, anything that will stay put and hold the motor in place works for me! Good thinking!
Bamby, I like the prop spinning on the highway, gives me a few more MPG!

We were told by our dealer and a mercury rep to just make sure we have the trim all the way down, no need for transom savers, etc.

rsmith wrote:We were told by our dealer and a mercury rep to just make sure we have the trim all the way down, no need for transom savers, etc.

Yep. If ground clearance is an issue, and motor has to be raised to tow, I would then use some sort of transom saver.

rsmith wrote:We were told by our dealer and a mercury rep to just make sure we have the trim all the way down, no need for transom savers, etc.

Just to be clear, are you saying lower the trim till it stops or just till the motor is vertical? If I lower mine all the way, it actually leans back at the top (away from the boat). So I just lower it till the motor is vertical, but now I'm not sure that is correct.

Really? If you do as much towing as I do, you'll end up with this. And you don't want this! Use a transom saver!

Yep it's called a transom saver, not a motor saver.

I welded 2 lengths of 2x2x.125 angle iron 6" apart to my rear trailer crossmember with a chunk of 2" pipe welded on the end of them so it just stuck out past the end of the 3rd pontoon for the transom saver to perch on. Not a bad route to go if your 3rd only sticks out 12-18" past the rear crossmember, any more than 18" and it would probibly twist the cross member and not be effective for support.

I checked and have a little over 6 inches of ground clearance. To raise or not to raise? That is the question.