Trailering Clips
Sierra 18-9096 Stern Drive Trailering Clips for Volvo Penta SX-A DPS-A (2007+)
Quicksilver 817019Q 2 MerCruiser Sterndrive Trim Cylinder Trailering Clips, Set of 2
What Are Trailering Clips and Why Do You Need Them?
If you own a sterndrive-equipped boat, trailering clips are one of the most overlooked — and most important — protective accessories you can carry. Trailering clips are small but critical devices that snap onto the hydraulic trim cylinder rams of a sterndrive unit, physically supporting the weight of the drive while your boat is on the trailer or in storage.
When a boat sits on a trailer with the drive trimmed up, the full weight of the sterndrive assembly rests on the hydraulic tilt and trim system. Over miles of highway driving, road vibration and weight surges can place enormous stress on those hydraulic cylinders. Trailering clips solve this problem by transferring that weight away from the hydraulic rams and onto the transom bracket — the structural component designed to handle it. The result is less wear on the o-rings, internal seals, and valves inside your hydraulic system, potentially extending its service life significantly.
How Trailering Clips Work
Installation is straightforward: the clips slide or snap directly onto the exposed hydraulic ram cylinders when the drive is trimmed to its transport position. Most clips are engineered from composite materials formulated to resist UV radiation, gasoline, oil, and other harsh marine chemicals. Some designs can even be trimmed to length to fit a variety of hydraulic ram sizes, making them compatible with multiple sterndrive platforms including MerCruiser Alpha, Bravo, and Blackhawk drives.
A key safety feature on many trailering clips is their bright, high-visibility color — often red or orange — specifically designed to serve as a visual reminder to remove the clips before launching. Forgetting to remove them before backing the boat into the water can prevent the drive from trimming down properly, so that vivid color cue is more than cosmetic.
What to Look for When Buying Trailering Clips
- Compatibility: Match the clip to your specific sterndrive model and hydraulic ram diameter (most common is 3/4" rams).
- Material: Look for UV-resistant, chemical-resistant composite plastics that will hold up in a marine environment.
- Trimability: Clips that can be cut to length offer versatility across different drive configurations.
- Visibility: Bright colors reduce the risk of launching with clips still installed.
Top Brands in Trailering Clips
T-H Marine is a widely trusted name in marine accessories, and their sterndrive trailering clips are a go-to choice for boaters looking to protect their investment. T-H Marine's clips are engineered to fit all sterndrives with 3/4" hydraulic rams — including MerCruiser Alpha I, Alpha I Gen II, Bravo I, Bravo II, Bravo III, and Blackhawk drives — and are built from materials resistant to UV rays, gasoline, and other marine chemicals.
Quicksilver brings OEM-grade precision to its trailering clip lineup. As the premier supplier of Mercury Marine Original Equipment replacement parts and accessories, Quicksilver trailering clips are designed specifically for MerCruiser sterndrive systems and are made from bright red/orange composite plastic — a deliberate design choice to remind boaters to remove them before launch. For owners of MerCruiser-powered boats, Quicksilver clips offer factory-engineered fitment and peace of mind.