lower unit's fin tip broken

[aJohn79]

ok, so I was on my trip to Door County (northern lake Michigan on Wisconsin tip) and when I was backing up from the pier off the ramp I hit a rock (no signs or warnings posted which sucks!). So, since I was going in reverse I hit the propeller directly. I busted a blade, plus the lower two inches (approximately) of the tip of the lower unit. The part that broke was solid aluminum and it seems that it was low enough that did not affected the shaft cavity. No oil leaks either. So I changed the propeller and went around for 130 miles with no problems. Should I be concerned about not having the tip of the lower unit? Will I have any long term issues? The broken tip is now as long as the propeller, so I will probably loose some protection there when hitting anything moving forward. I am thinking of rounding the broken surface with a dremel and use it normally, or should I get a new housing? ideas?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: lower unit's fin tip broken

It won't hurt anything to run it like that. But if you are concerned about looks you can install a skeg guard over the skeg. A stainless one runs around 100 bucks. Or take the lower unit off and take it to a prop shop and they can fix it for you.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: lower unit's fin tip broken

What he said.....
Ya don't really need it & quit hittin' stuff.......​

 

[Mike V]

Re: lower unit's fin tip broken

Do you remember which ramp? (Egg Harbor, etc...) I'm Going up next week and don't want to copy you!
Glad it didn't ruin her!
Mike

 

[aJohn79]

Re: lower unit's fin tip broken

It was the city ramp in Sturgeon Bay, the one located by the ship yard on the northern side of the channel. After changing the propeller I used the city ramp on the southern side of the channel. That one is much bigger, deep and crowded. There were 26 footers cruising out of that one with no problem.
If you have a 16 footer hope to have either no wind or South wind. We went all the way up to Washington Insland for a 100 mile trip. In the way back the wind was SW coming up from Green Bay. The waves were 2-3 feet which makes it for a rough and slow ride.

 

[QC]

Re: lower unit's fin tip broken

Or take the lower unit off and take it to a prop shop and they can fix it for you.

I would do that as the Skeg Gards say "Mickey Mouse" to me, but I'm a dighead . . .