It finally happened to me - scraped skeg on the ramp!

[Bliner175]

We keep our boat slipped in the summer, so I don't do a lot of trailering. When I do, I'm always extra cautious since the routine hasn't become habit for me at this point.

Well, this morning, I was in a hurry and rushing and managed to scrape the skeg for about a foot -- damage is minor - probably took 1/8" of paint off, it's not bent, trimming is fine.

I'll file it and hit it with some paint, but my question is - with the boat being wet slipped, will the aluminum start to corrode if any of the paint comes off?

We're talking Mercruiser 3.0, Alpha one -- i believe the Skeg is alumnium.

 

[stackz]

Re: It finally happened to me - scraped skeg on the ramp!

in saltwater, most definitely. I know as mine was doing the same thing.

I used my air grinder to get all the corrosion off, put some 2-4-c grease all over it, then tossed on a stainless skeg guard and sealed it with 5200 and then painted to sealer black to match the rest of the foot. but thats just me.

 

[Stachi]

Re: It finally happened to me - scraped skeg on the ramp!

in saltwater, most definitely. I know as mine was doing the same thing.

I used my air grinder to get all the corrosion off, put some 2-4-c grease all over it, then tossed on a stainless skeg guard and sealed it with 5200 and then painted to sealer black to match the rest of the foot. but thats just me.

What is 2-4-c grease ??

 

[spdracr39]

Re: It finally happened to me - scraped skeg on the ramp!

I think the zinc cathodes will keep the corrosion down. I would just paint it and leave it at that.

 

[5150abf]

Re: It finally happened to me - scraped skeg on the ramp!

Fresh water don't worry, salt paint it and you will need to use etching primer before you paint or it won't stick, I woudl tape off the bottom 3''-4'' of the skeg and sand it with 320-400 then hit it with the etching and then paint blending as you get towards the tape.

The etching primer has an acid in it and actually eats into the metal to give you a really good paint bond, it is translucent so no matter how much you put oin you cna see right through it but you really don't need much.