Damaged skag help

[Eyeman]

1999 B3. Hung up on a rock in a slow no-wake zone. The results are a bent scag. Should I heat, bend back and paint or is this something left to the professional? I didn't even notice a performance problem when on plan or at any speed??? Thanks for any guidance.

 

[jkust]

Re: Damaged skag help

Interesting, I usually only see broken skegs, not bent. The skeg isn't needed but does protect the prop from impacts. I have to wonder if a bent skeg will cause some pulling to one side. To answer your question, unless you are experienced, with the ramifications of heating up a skeg and the internal damage to the lower unit that can be caused, I would leave it to a pro.

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Damaged skag help

It doesn't look too bad.......and if you didn't notice a performance problem, it's probably not creating any major disturbance ahead of the prop.
But, I would eventually get it fixed, and I would get some quotes from "professionals", before I would try to bend it back myself.
That's just my opinion.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Damaged skag help

If you try to bend it then it will break off.

You may be interested in this thread about my broken B3 skeg.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=282896&highlight=lucky+bent+skeg

 

[reddogg]

Re: Damaged skag help

heating and bending aluminum can be tricky, unless you've done it before leave it to a pro. The problem is that alum dosen't change colors like steel when heated up giving you an indication that it's hot enough. The trick is to use an oxy/acet rig, clean the metal and than light the torch and let the soot from the acet coat the alum. Than heat carefully and when the soot dissapears it's hot enough to bend. If you mess it up your metal will instantly melt which is why you should leave it to a pro.

red

 

[Bondo]

Re: Damaged skag help

heating and bending aluminum can be tricky, unless you've done it before leave it to a pro. The problem is that alum dosen't change colors like steel when heated up giving you an indication that it's hot enough. The trick is to use an oxy/acet rig, clean the metal and than light the torch and let the soot from the acet coat the alum. Than heat carefully and when the soot dissapears it's hot enough to bend. If you mess it up your metal will instantly melt which is why you should leave it to a pro.

red

Ayuh,.... Interesting,.... I bend Cold, after annealing....

Coat the opposite surface of it with motor oil....
Heat from the Dry side...
As the oil evaporates, that area is hot enough, move on...
When the oil is gone, let cool to touch...
Wack it a couple times, 'n reanneal...

 

[cr2k]

Re: Damaged skag help

Beat it back with support behind the bend. But you have to have a feel for aluminum. If it breaks off you can put a SS skeg saver on it.

 

[Eyeman]

Re: Damaged skag help

heating and bending aluminum can be tricky, unless you've done it before leave it to a pro. The problem is that alum dosen't change colors like steel when heated up giving you an indication that it's hot enough. The trick is to use an oxy/acet rig, clean the metal and than light the torch and let the soot from the acet coat the alum. Than heat carefully and when the soot dissapears it's hot enough to bend. If you mess it up your metal will instantly melt which is why you should leave it to a pro.

red

Thanks for the guidance. I understand the tricky nature of aluminum and it sounds like you have a method that'll get the job done. I'll use the acetylene soot and the oil on the back side method and give it a try. I don't like banging on it with a hammer. I'll probably use a large channel lock pliers or pipe wrench. I?ll also remove the paint via DA before attempting the bend back. Should I be wrapping the prop seal area with a wet towel or won't the heat transfer that far? Where does the lower unit oil reservoir end? How far up from the bottom of the skag?

 

[reddogg]

Re: Damaged skag help

If you're going to try it, I'd wrap the gear casing with a wet towel. Aluminum transfers heat fast, but also heats up quickly so it wont take too long. Be really careful because if you goof it up using the acet method your going to waste your skeg.

red

 

[AZSenza]

Re: Damaged skag help

Mine like to break! When I bought the boat the Skeg had a small chunk missing from the aft tip, like a bite had been taken out of it, last weekend I got too shallow and picked up a rock, it scratched the forward prop and took a bigger chunk out of the skeg. I smoothed it all out, will prime and paint this weekend. On my Alpha, the skeg was about gone when I got it, I just mounted one of those stainless ones, Looked great, I guess thats my next move on the B3. Try bending, if it breaks, smooth the edges and run it.