Securing motor for towing

[Steven]

I have the motor tilted up using a transom saver. I've seen little clips that go on the steering tubes to 'lock' the motor in place. I have hydraulic steering. Are these clips needed?

-I put the motor in reverse to keep the prop from spinning in the breeze. Any problems with that?

[Cracker Larry]

Are these clips needed?

No, just a gimmick.

[AMC]

Along those lines, I have a question.

My boat sits very high on the trailer, relative to the shaft of the motor. I generally tow with the motor in the all down position, and it's never in danger of touching ground. Would I be better off up with some sort of a transom saver, or down like now? It's only a 30hp on a 15' Al boat.

[wadestep]

I'd just keep it all the way down.
Also - Steven - There's nothing I know of wrong with putting the motor in gear (fwd or reverse) while towing, but I don't think it's of any real benefit, either. The prop hub is meant to spin, and the little, slow amount it would do that behind the boat due to air flow (minimized behind the hull) should be insignificant. Driving on the iterstate behind boats in neutral, I've never seen one even revolving at RPMs equivalent to idle speed in the water.

any one else have any thoughts on that?

wade

[Cracker Larry]

any one else have any thoughts on that?

I trailer mine trimmed down also, and leave it in neutral. Prop spin isn't going to hurt anything, ours has a few thousand miles behind the truck. The prop is made to spin and the gearbox has oil in it. Spin away I've never used a transom saver either and never really seen the need. The boat is built to support the engine. If it can't, it's not much of a boat.

[mechdave]

The only problem I can see leaving it neutral is the spinning prop might mesmerize those of us following you while you are going fishing and we are driving to work and cause an accident.

[wadestep]

Shiny.....
Spinning....
Wish I was Fishing...