@(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

[MAW31]

Gah!

Got asked to move the boat from the driveway real quick and forgot that i had the motor down.

It didnt take but an instant, and now the skegs shorder than the prop. by a quarter inch.

Get past it, i say to myself and figure out how to fix this mess.

I've heard of people building up the skeg using a torch and some aluminum rods...and I'd like to hear from y'all on your own successes.

thx

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: @(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

it will run fine with out the extra length, on you can put a skeg guard on it. torch will require you to rebuild lower unit, due to rubber seals getting hot.

here http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...3549--submit.Search--submit.x.34--submit.y.10

 

[Texasmark]

Re: @(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

I had a new engine and about the 4th time out I ran across a submerged concrete anchor to a marina boat house. Had TT and the engine didn't move. The boat just lifted up slightly as I went over it and I knew something was wrong.

Inspection on the trailer revealed about .5" or so of the skeg was cut off clean as a whistle just as if a knife cut right through warm butter.

The engine was an 85 HP Merc of about '77 vintage and they had come out with a squared off skeg as compared to the earlier rounded ones.

I took the file and rounded it off like the predecessors and went about my business. Never knew I lost it.

Some folks even bend them slightly to one side and have no adverse effects.

I personally think you have more important things to worry about. Grin!

Mark

 

[lmannyr]

Re: @(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

Yup....time for a skeg guard. Better than rebuilding if you ruin your seals with the torching.


No big deal.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: @(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

There were some older motors built without skegs at all

 

[ezeke]

Re: @(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

If you don't care about the needed protection for your propeller and propeller shaft then sure, leave it.

Unless the bend is very close to the gears, welding a new skeg on will have zero effect on the seals. Most professional welders will either cut a good skeg off a salvage drive or use a replacement skeg. http://www.iboats.com/T-H-Marine-Re...64296561--**********.503770169--view_id.40152

The SkegGuard is good for DIY. They do give a little drag. http://www.iboats.com/Skeggard-Repa...64296561--**********.503770169--view_id.39561

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: @(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

I go skegless when ever I can...its like going with out undies, your just out there man...

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: @(#$*. I did it...I dragged the skeg...

Where I live (da bayou!), you can't help hitting stuff. Fortunately what you hit most often, are submerged logs. Depending on how fast you are going and how rotten the log is, you may or may not do damage.

I haven't busted a skeg yet, but my J65 does have a slight s-curve in it, from repeatedly hitting stuff. Just one more reason to back of the throttle and cruise at about 20 mph, as I do.



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