Todd in NY

Thanks again for the opinions and discussion. My main concern with my kicker motor is ground clearance in the highest trailering position. It weighs 80 pounds, but it doesn't tilt up very far in trailering mode. The roads I travel are really good for the most part, and I always slow down for any bumps. We have some hilly terrain around many of our inland lakes, which requires more ground clearance. I have all winter to think about it because I might only get my boat out a few more times before the snow starts falling.

Just a follow up on this topic... The rear of my trailer is tucked up too far under my boat to reach my main motor in a straight line distance. I will have to fabricate a transom saver with a bend in it to get it to clear the bottom of the boat. The kicker motor looks like it will work with a transom saver. Looks like more winter projects to add to my growing list...

Thanks for all the feedback. Using one makes sense to me because of the weight of the motor and the stress that puts on a transom, especially an old transom (1987 is an old transom in my book). I'd rather be safe than sorry, and I don't like the idea of replacing my transom. I've only trailered this boat twice since buying it, and it's been on my mind both times I traveled down the road with it. Have a safe weekend everyone!

Thanks sszoldra.

My 90hp motor has a flip-up bracket for trailering, and I was told that I didn't need a transom saver bracket when I bought the boat from the previous owner. I use a transom saver for my 15hp kicker/trolling motor because the owners manual for that motor says not to trailer the boat with the motor held up by the tilt bracket. Should I be using a transom saver for my 90hp motor? I don't want to put any unnecessary stress on my 1987 transom because that 90hp motor weighs 300 pounds, but I also don't want to add any additional equipment that isn't needed.

Thanks Nautitroller!

Thanks Pap! This is a great forum, and its loaded with knowledgeable members. I've already learned quite a bit here and look forward to many great years of sharing information.

I joined the forum back in 2008 when I was researching river fishing for salmon and trout. But my life in the Army kept me from doing much fishing or hunting back then, and my only boat at the time was a canoe, which served me well until I sold it this summer. I replaced my canoe with a 1974 Sea Nymph 14A, which is a 13' 6" V-hull aluminum row boat. I power it with a 1996 3.3hp Evinrude 2 stroke outboard with an internal fuel tank. This summer I also bought a 1987 Sea Nymph (aluminum center console) Striper cc191 (19ft) with a 90hp Evinrude VRO outboard, so it's been an exciting year of fishing with my 2 "new" boats. My cc191 also has a 1992 15hp Evinrude outboard for trolling Lake Ontario and a 70 pound thrust 24v trolling motor for bass fishing. I've been boating for over 30 years and fishing for over 40 years. I fished the gulf of Mexico near Galveston, TX for 7 years, mostly offshore, and nearly 300 fishing trips. I have trolled Lake Michigan back in the mid 1980's, fished all kinds of lakes and rivers from Texas to Illinois and many points east. Now I regularly fish our local river and lakes in northern NY and Lake Ontario. All these years and types of fishing and I still have a LOT to learn. The name of my little boat is "Rock Bottom", because it's a stripped down basic fishing beast. The name of my 19 footer is "Fishology" because catching fish is a science, and every time I hit the water I learn something new. Happy to be here!