1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

[luv2b0at]

I have some metal missing from the rear edge of the skeg on my 1983 OMC sterndrive lower unit. Does someone make a glove that will slide over the original and restore the profile of the skeg?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Ayuh,...

Search up Skeg Guard,... I believe they have them right here at iboats...

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Post a pic and maybe you don't need one lets see what it looks like.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

You have a pm.

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Sorry, but what's a pm?

Will post a photo soon. Going out to replace the prop right now.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Sorry, but what's a pm?




That would be a Private Message....
Look at the upper right hand header screen, where it says "Welcome luv2bt"

It's quite possible that you have enough meat left on there to refile/grind/shape whats left into a usuable skeg..

Do a "search forum" under skeg repair and you will see many that have gone through this.

Good luck

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Here's a pic of the of the skeg. I thought the shape was somewhat critical. If it isn't I'll reshape/smooth it out if that will be OK.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

that's nothing to worry about. But check that your ground wire from the upper unit to the intermediate is in tact. that skeg material was eaten away by galvanic corrosion. Missing ground wire can accelerate that I believe.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Smooth it out and leave it alone.

 

[cbavier]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

I vote leave it alone too. The only real purpose of the skeg is to protect the prop if there is an impact. Yours protrudes below the prop.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

that's nothing to worry about. But check that your ground wire from the upper unit to the intermediate is in tact. that skeg material was eaten away by galvanic corrosion. Missing ground wire can accelerate that I believe.

That sure is what it looks like. It would have been almost impossible to knock a chunk out of the skeg, at that location.

I'll second the ground wire issue, but I would file that area into a smooth arc and paint it up with some zinc chromate primer and enamel.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

I think someone backed into a underwater object and messed up a prop also.

I was going to ask if the shaft is bent. Maybe stripped a shaft. But we are not getting any updates from the original poster.

 

[JustJason]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

The only real purpose of the skeg is to protect the prop if there is an impact. Yours protrudes below the prop.

Not really... the entire drive is the boats rudder. The skeg is the bottom most part of the rudder.

That being said, some boats operate fine with a broken skeg, some boats barely steer at all with a broken skeg. that being said yours doesn't look to bad and i to, would just file it the best ya can and shoot it with some paint.

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Cheifalen, I am posting replies as often as I can.

The skeg was broken when something (a rock most likely) was forced bewteen the prop and the skeg. There is no corrosion on the boat. It's never in the water. The prop was beat up and I changed it yesterday. You can see the new one in the photo. I will smooth it out and leave it. I let you all know how it steers tomorrow. We're headed out into San Francisco Bay from San Leandro Marina tomorrow. The weather is Mid 30's at night and mid 60's to 70 in the afternoon, blue bird skies and little wind. I am looking forward to it.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Good luck !

Another pm concerning a different omc stringer drive, a guy had problems yanking the impeller pump out of the upper.

These pm's i think i might have to post what Bond-O and Don posted about pm's.

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: 1983 OMC Sterndrive (Stringer) Broken Skeg

Here's a few pics I promised of our trip on San Francisco Bay yesterday. Weather was GREAT!!, mid 60's, 5 mph wind, water was glass, not a cloud in the sky. The boat ran fantastic. I guess I'll smooth out the skeg profile so it's not so ugly and leave it like it is.

Thanks for the help.