Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

[mrfizban]

I was going up the boat ramp and forgot to raise the prop and I drug the outdrive up the ramp for about 10 feet before I heard my wife yelling. The keel has a slight chip (about a 3/4" triagle) out of the rear. It is also a little roughed up and flared out a little along the bottom edge, but not bent or anything major.<br /><br />I checked with a boater and he said the keel is actually not really a critical part of the out drive and it losing an inch off the back and having a little scrape is unnoticeable and it shouldn't be a problem. I could even sand it and that would take away any extra white-water wash it creates. <br /><br />My wife isn't convinced and wants me to look into having it replaced, but that isn't easy as we're talking a Volvo Penta I/O and it is just part of one entire molded unit.<br /><br />Does anyone have a second opinion?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

You won't notice any difference in the handling of the boat... Clean it up a little and you will be fine....

 

[vipzach]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

The piece you are talking about is actually called the skeg, not a keel. That part is there to protect the prop, if they are chipped or even slightly bent, you won't notice the difference. You can have them replaced, but if it isn't bent, I would not worry about it. You can smooth the edges out and boat like normal. They also make skeg guards, to help protect that part of your drive.<br /><br />edit: Here is a link to the skeggard here at iboats. skeggard <br />BTW, I have done the same thing! "Honey......what is that sound? S%&t, it is the drive dragging the ramp!"

 

[mrfizban]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Thanks. Skeg, know I know why I didn't find info on it. Now that I search under skeg I found a couple links where others have done the same. The skeggard sounds like the best plan. Thanks again.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

skeg did it's job - now, most folks would say your keel is a critical part of the boat - don't try removing it, although if you do decide to, a concrete boat ramp will probably do the job...

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Welcome to the Skeg Draggers Club. You're a true boater now. What everyone else said- put on a skeg guard and forget it ever happened.

 

[Chris611]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

If you want to get it fixed or it happens again and it completely breaks off, you can go to a welding shop that does aluminum and they can put a replacment one on for you. I have had two replaced (newbie mistakes). My boat mechanic gave me the number of a local guy that has a spool gun for his MIG and also has a supply of Aluminum. He replaced it for $50. I just removed the outdrive and took the whole unit to him. I don't worry about reinforcing the area, becasue I like the skeg as a "fuse".

 

[beezee28]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Being there done that too. Rough up the skeg and what I did was sand it down and spray paint over it but the next time I took the boat out all the paint got peeled off so now I don't bother to paint it. <br /><br />I bought the skeg guard and that did the job. Also I tried to be real carefull on the water and not run into anything but it is the loading of the boat at the ramp that poses the main problem (keep forgeting to trim up the drive.)

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

You're lucky - like others said, most likely no problem at all.<br /><br />I borrowed my dad's fishing boat with a 40 HP outboard. I am used to running an outboard with a jet lower unit - therefore don't tilt up at all when trailering, launching or loading. I pulled his boat out without tilting because I just wasn't thinking about it. MAJOR bend in the skeg AND bent the prop. Luckily, a local boat shop was able to pound the skeg straight and sell me a new prop and a can of paint to touch up the skeg ... and I had the old one fixed so my dad would have a spare. It's only money - I think that blunder cost me over $200! I'm always happy when I can afford to buy my way out of a blunder and I was really happy my dad didn't have to lose use of the boat at all.<br /><br />This is why I never make fun of guys who make stupid mistakes at the boat launch. I've made every single one of them and therefore try to help as much as I can.

 

[markvan]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

thats nothing major last year i was fishing with a buddy he loaded his boat on the trailer didn't hook up his safty chain on his bow hook like his usually does then he got back in his boat and told me to go....next thing i heard was him saying wooo, hell i thought he was saying go so i stepped on it a bit more, (i guess he never heard of the word stop) anyways the cable from his winch snapped and his boat rolled off the trailer broke the skeg clean off. local welding shop put her back on for $100 then he painted it and you could never tell it happened.

 

[QC]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

I have done the same in and out of the water. A file and some paint is what you need, nothing else. To me the Skeg Gard screams Mickey Mouse. If you damage it badly enough, bend it, or clean break it off, have it repaired. What you describe is nothing.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Agree, you could run completely without it and never know it if you never hit anything vertically; dead on. If the cosmetics are bothering you get out a grinder or file and clean it up and paint the skeg. No one but you will ever know the difference.<br /><br />I bought a brand new 85 hp Merc in like '84. Just had to take it out the first weekend I had it. Wind blowing too hard. Was running too fast around a covered floating boat dock and ran over one of their concrete anchors. Ripped the bottom and *** end off the skeg. Thought I was going to cry. Maybe I did. Ha!<br /><br />Got home and filed her down and a little paint and only I knew it was not OEM. Actually it added to my performance a tad as there was less drag in the water.<br /><br />Mark

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

DO NOT, REPEAT DO NOT HAVE YOUR SKEG WELDED BY JUST ANY WELDER. Have someone who has experience doing skegs perform the service. The heat from the welder can screw up your seals and put a real hurtin on your outdrive and wallet. They may wrap it in ice or whatever, but you can severely damage your outdrive. <br /><br />Just a heads up and warning from someone who has seen this.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

this is what i've done. remove prop, trim motor up, put tape over the water inlets, use a grinder, sander, file, and just work out the area. wash all the dust, and shaving away. remove tape , install prop. good as new.

 

[keithbo]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Well I got that beat! I just bought a used bowrider from an old guy who's last words to me when I left his house was -" Dont forget to raise the outdrive when loading boat after using it"! I didn'T and it tore off about 3 inches of the skeg! I hope to god that doesn't haunt me.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Round here, if you have paint on your skeg, you aren't boating.
I broke mine off backing into a parkiing space and hitting the curb bumper. Got it welded back on. Good to know about the seals and stuff; a prop shop did mine so either they knew or I got lucky.

Skeg guards are like bolting a salt-treated 2x12 to the bumper of your car to protect the bumper. Occasionally, but not often, a good idea.

well, now we resolved your skeg problem; you will have to go to a professional to resolved the nervous wife problem. Good luck with that one.

 

[QC]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Four year old thread

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

oops.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

I just replaced the completly broken-off skeg on my Force 125....bought it here at Iboats...$29.00... I welded it on today and repainted lower unit....came out nice ....new water pump kit ( housing,plate,impeller and gaskets), a few seals....new gear oil....ok next project...

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Forgot to raise outdrive - damaged Keel

Just imagine the size of the OP's skeg after four years of retrieving.....