Broken Skeg

[Macattack]

Yesterday I made my maden voyage with my new used boat powered by a 1990 150 Force. The boat and motor is the same combination pictured on the Clymers Force manual. Second pass on the lake I hit something, bent the prop and broke the skeg off. I've read the other posts here regarding this and they talked about a weld repair or in some cases a product called skeggard was used. What is the proper way to repair or should the lower unit be replaced. Is it likely the prop shaft was bent. Could the bearings be harmed. I'd like to be prepared when I take it to my local repair shop. Thanks Bill Mc

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Broken Skeg

YOu can probably take it to a machine shop and they can weld you a new skeg for under a hundred bucks. You will then have to prime and paint it. Try draining a little of your lower unit oil through the drain hole. If it is milky white you may have damaged the prop shaft. I would remove lower unit and water pump. Turn drive shaft clockwise while motor is in gear and just watch the prop shaft to see if it wobbles. Hopefully it is just the skeg and a new prop. I believe you will have to totally disassemble the lower unit in order for them to weld it. A boat shop will charge you about 200 to put it back together and re seal it. YOu can re seal yourself with a manual and a seal kit.<br /><br />Keep an eye on ebay. They sell a lot of lower units for your motor for under 200 bucks. They may be junk but some of the parts in them may be the busted part you need for you old one.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[Macattack]

Re: Broken Skeg

Thanks for your reply. I drained some of the oil and it was not milky, nice bluish color. I then pulled the lower unit removed the water pump and prop. Turned it as you said there appears to be no wobble to be seen by the eye. Hope these are good signs. Is there any curvature in the skeg or are they straight up and down forward and back? Bill Mc

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Broken Skeg

Maybe look at ebay so you can see what the skeg is suppose to look like. A good thing is when it broke it did not go high enough up to cause a leak in lower unit. Here is a link on what needs to be done. Maybe it can be done without taking it apart but if heat is used I would think it will have to be resealed after it is done. skeg repair

 

[Macattack]

Re: Broken Skeg

Took the lower unit in to my local Mercury shop. 200 dollars to repair skeg $150 for a new prop. Bill Mc