Outboards with power tilt

[catalac08]

Hi
Thinking of getting a new outboard for my cat and power tilt would be nice...or would it. My first thought to press the button for up and press one for down, very convenient but how does the reverse lock work with power tilt and is there any other lever used to lock down the leg (after all I wish to avoid having to lift the engine cover) and most manufacturers brochures refer to the power tilt as being for lifting the prop out of the water when moored etc and some specifically warn against having the tilt up when the boat is being towed on a trailer. If the mechanism is not robust enough to cope with a bumpy road then how will it fare on the back of a boat sailing and pitching a fair bit?

I would be pleased to have some enlightenment on the features of power tilt on outboards and any pointers for and against power tilt and things to avoid. Not talking about a large outboard just 20HP or so.

 

[spannerman]

Outboards with power trim don't have a reverse lock as the hydraulics perform that function for you, as regards trailering every motor I've seen has a mechanical lever which you swing up and then lower the tilt until the lever is taking the weight so if the engine bounces it doesn't stress the seals and valves in the system.
Trim and tilt are one and the same, the trim moves the engine through so many degrees then the ram (s) lift it further at usually a higher speed to the trailer position.

 

[duncan]

as Spannerman has outlined the capability of the hydraulics is fine for the power element. the trailer bit relates to the very specific un-damped motion associated with many trailered loads - none of mine (larger ones) have had any mechanical lever but I have always used a softwood block against which the raised leg is lowered and 'locked'. These forces are very different from even a high speed power craft (50 knots or so) let alone a sialing craft!