Towing - outboard up or down

[Thistle]

Please excuse a rare visitor from the sailing forums?

When towing boats (dories, RIBs) with outboards, should the engine be up or down?

Almost everyone tells me that the engine should be up but the engine manuals say down. Which should I believe? Why?

Thanks.

 

[colingr]

We used to tow up with a support for the leg as with it down the prop was too close to the ground.

I think the engine manuals are concerned with the o/b being damaged by bouncing around which would be minimised with it locked down.

 

[Thistle]

But the manuals say that the tilt support is not to be used for towing.

 

[jrudge]

Can we be clear - are you towing behind a car or towing behind a boat?

 

[BruceK]

As Jokerboat said - raised but supported. i.e. so that the tilt support and transom receive no excessive stress and vibrations.
i.e.

Support usually butts against the trailer and cradles the leg

 

[colingr]

But the manuals say that the tilt support is not to be used for towing.

As BruceK has pointed out. Do not use the tilt support but something more substantial. At least a block of wood under the power head instead of the tilt support which is next to useless for anything.