ID ask more does anyone not use one. No way I rely on the pins. My mate a yamaha tech and my uncle a diesel marine mechanic both said use a bracket.

I dont consider them a service bracket, more a hydraulics saver bracket long term???? You attach them only when you are taking it to get servced...... wat the

Think about all that bouncing its doing, even 1km to the boatramp, over speed bumps, let alone a 200km+ trip.

My yammy tech mate welded one together for my last 3cyl tiller steer out of ally square tubing. Simply attached to the trailer with one end and to the leg under one of the cavitation humps up top of leg with rubber on each end, engine is locked into place with weight on so it cant move. and then a small winch strap around leg back to both sides of trailer to make sure the leg stays firm, although I honestly dont think movement upward from bumps to be the issue with the hydraulic lock but just do it to be safe. To be honest on a small 50hp the hydraulics were fairly shot, prob from some the original owner not using one. Pretty much the same set up everyone else uses.

I cant see how damage can occur if the leg is locked down onto the support? Only way that could happen is the leg lock failure and it bouncing, but likely the support would fall away first and you would hear bottom of leg scraping on the freeway......

Or somebody forgot to lock it in place and attach the precautionary downward force strap.

Yes, it's a bit of a belt and braces approach so if the hydraulics fail the belt supports it and Gives it additional support. Anyway you look at it, it works

Have to admit I use the service bracket and hydraulics combined, so lower motor on service brackets, but not hard down. All as advised by dealer on Yamaha 150 4s. And I'm not that happy with it, so based on this discussion may look for an after market support

Related but similar..
What's best practice for steering while towing. I have been told have it hard over to one side, rather than motor straight ahead so (hydraulic) steering is not taking the bounces as well??

Not all tilt support brackets are the same.
The ones with a bent folded piece of metal welded on to a small shaft, won't last long if used while towing.
One of mine is broken, and the previous owner had then switched to using a block around the tilt ram shaft, which I have continued to use.