This may seem like an asinine question....but...here goes.....Have any of you ever turned around while you're going 65 mph down the lake???.....the vibration on the motor (IMO), is greater that than driving down the highway....so, why would the vibration on the highway be more detrimental to the transom...etc...than on the water????

I completely agree that your transom is way strong enough to support the motor it's rated for. I have always used a "transom saver" my entire(old) life not as a "transom saver" but rather a "motor trailering stabilizer". My motor will vibrate, swing around and even looks like its nearly bouncing around if I pull it a short distance without the transom saver in place. The old style stick types that rest on the roller on the rear of the trailer are obsolete in my opinion. I bought my Ranger with a nearly new 250XS and the lower unit was all scarfed up because the original owner used that old style. I have a Motor Mate and it does an excellent job of "securing" that heavy motor during trailering....but I don't believe it "saves my transom". :-)

The goal is too save hydraulics not the transom. U can spend $100 or $30 for the same thing, do what you want. I don't know of one product that stops the engine from bouncing up.. and it will on a pot hole in the road.... heck on the 147 bridge over Rayburn if ur going the speed limit. Hydraulic pressure does help to prevent upward movement but by design the engine is allowed to come up under force. If that happens that is tough on your bracket, and transom.

Motormate is the way to go--no need for steering clips.

Motormate and be done.

I just read an article about this. It basically stated that most boat makers don't recommend support as the hull is made to be able to withstand the stress put on it while trailering. They do state that it should be vertical when traveling. The only need for the saver is if the motor would touch the ground and had to be tilted. Then the saver was just for the hydraulic system not the transom.

I've been using the old fashion stick on the roller for years and have never had any problems so I'll just keep on using it rather than risk it. Mine would touch the ground when vertical anyway.