broken skeg

[punchy]

1992 115 Rude.Bent skeg on bottom looks like a "J" and about 2 inches broke off the end.Any way it can be heated enough to straighten then weld on skeg replacement.Is the skeg replacement solid or is it hollow so it can slip over old broken one before welding?

 

[ezeke]

Re: broken skeg

Some of the options are available here:
http://www.iboats.com/Marine_Store/...29--session_id.581907247--search_type.keyword

The skeggard is stainless steel, slips on, and is held by stainless nuts and bolts. It is basically do-it-yourself. The replacement skegs are aluminum alloy and require professional welding.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: broken skeg

Punchy, I hit a rock with my merc at skiing speed. It snapped the skeg off leaving a `1inch jagged edge. Merc sold me a replacement skeg ($20) whaich I had welded onto the LU ($80). J/E likely has replacements as well.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: broken skeg

don't try it yourself, to hot and it cooks the seals.

 

[JC1933]

Re: broken skeg

Guy's I had a skeg welded on my J 130, the welder had water in bottom of the leg to keep the temp, down, worked like a charm.

Skeg is now 4 years old without a problem....

 

[MJ76]

Re: broken skeg

If it's only a couple of inches off the bottom, I wouldn't bother buying a skeg. For a small repair like that I would straighten it out and then just build it back up with the TIG. Grind it, paint it, and done, probably for under $100. And yes, you tilt it up and fill the bullett with water and take it easy so you don't cook the prop shaft seals.

I don't like the stainless "skeg-guards" because the next time you hit it, you're likely to break off the whole thing in one piece, a much more expensive repair, or replacement of your lower unit case.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: broken skeg

I bought a boat last year with a 115 Merc on it and someone had replaced the skeg with a plastic glue on replacement, I wasn't fond of the idea at the time, but it's been fine for over a year. I think it said Blackfin on the side. It was installed with resin or epoxy over the remaining portion of the skeg, it looked like it belonged and I wouldn't have even noticed it if the seller hadn't pointed it out. I sold the boat and motor but the new owner is still running it with no problems. It actually seems to be tougher than the original, and I suppose it would take a pretty decent shot. It's also not so rigid that it would damage the lower unit if you hit something. The more I think about the idea of having a plastic or composite skeg vs an aluminum one or one made of stainless, the more I like the idea. The one I had on that one motor can be found here, but I have seen other similar product advertised too, blackfinskeg.com

I have also repaired a few less seriously damaged skegs with Devcon Aluminum putty. One of which is on a 70 HP that I own and has been fine for at least 5 years now. That one had lost about an inch off of one corner, I simply built it back up, filed and sanded it to the correct shape and repainted.
Yours sounds far beyond the latter repair.