Boat trailer wheel bearing maintenance

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Similar to andy.
You want the leg as close to the transom as possible within limits of departure angle. if a heavy leg is trimmed out on rough roads the transom will get hammered.
A block of 4x2 between transom mount and motor bracket compressed by hydraulics and also strapped in place is a good start. Secure leg to one side and remove prop off.use a roll of industrial cling wrap to seal up intakes from dust ingress and call it done.

If you attach leg to trailer ensure there is never any movement between boat and trailer or you risk flogging the motor pivot tilt tube to death. Probably okay on smaller 30ish hp / sub 50kg donks.

Thanks Steve.

I like the idea of the cling wrap around the intake areas. I tried (in vain) to make a canvas engine bag that would keep out the dust and all I succeeded in doing was wasting some good canvas I could have used for other things.
I have a 50 tiller steer on my tinny, and the bracket I mentioned previously has it sitting at about 3/4 of it's tilt range to keep the leg clear of the ground. All I have is a gas assisted tilt system, so I can't rely on the hydraulics to hold it steady.
The boat itself is held tight to the trailer by way of some aircraft cargo straps front and rear, which once tightened correctly, don't allow any movement at all.
My idea was to have the boat, motor and trailer that well tied down it became one unit.
It is starting to get a bit sloppy now on the pivot tube, but after 10 years, and god knows how many km's of highway, dirt and offroad (I wore out a new set of tyres on this trailer a couple of years ago) I guess I have no complaints.

Have you got a picture of that ply support you were talking about Andy?

Matt.