Noob makes a booboo

[ja3ck]

Hi! Cool site! Looking forward to learning lots.

I broke my skeg. It's an 84 Alpha 1, and I am now skegless. I don't have the broken piece as it broke on a psychotic speed bump (I think), and it was gone when I went back to look after getting home. Yes, I must have accidentally lowered the od after loading, or I never raised it. What should I do? How will the boat handle/perform without a skeg? Can I get a new one fabricated? Help! Thanks!

 

[45Auto]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

All the skeg does is protect your prop and prop shaft. Doesn't make any difference to the handling on the boat, you have plenty of side area on the rest of the drive in the water. However, next time you hit something it will mangle the prop and bend the propshaft instead of bouncing off the skeg ....

It cost about $400 around here to have a skeg rewelded so it's like new. This thread shows what it takes to weld one back on without pulling all the guts:

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

They also make some bolt-on repair skegs if you have enough left to attach them to.

 

[ja3ck]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

Wow! that's some awesome work you did!

Thanks for the info. I feel tons better now! Looks like I'll worry about it when/if I need to replace the lower unit.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...755190--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0

 

[4Winns2]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

All the skeg does is protect your prop and prop shaft. Doesn't make any difference to the handling on the boat, you have plenty of side area on the rest of the drive in the water. However, next time you hit something it will mangle the prop and bend the propshaft instead of bouncing off the skeg ....

It cost about $400 around here to have a skeg rewelded so it's like new. This thread shows what it takes to weld one back on without pulling all the guts:

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

They also make some bolt-on repair skegs if you have enough left to attach them to.

The one time I cut a skeg in half there was so much shimmy in the wheel I could hardly drive it. My neighbor chopped his a week or two ago and he has the shimmies too. Not to be argumentative, but the the skeg does more than protect the prop- -it is the main steering fin on the outdrive.

FWIW: I paid $150.00 15 years ago to have mine re-welded back on. Beats the price of replace the leg.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

Not to be argumentative, but the the skeg does more than protect the prop- -it is the main steering fin on the outdrive.

I've sheered them off also, and I couldn't see any difference at all... Compare the surface area of the skeg (minimal) to the rest of the drive. The skeg does NOT provide much turning force based on that alone. The angled shape of it actually makes it a VERY poor rudder.

With a movable prop setup you really don't need ANY rudder surface at all while underway, that is what your props are providing. The rudder surface provides turning ability with power off.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

It is a common problem. I would see if you can get one at a Merc Dealer. They were pretty cheap years ago. You will need a good welder to attach it. When I had mine done, I did not need to strip the gearcase at all.

 

[4Winns2]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

I've sheered them off also, and I couldn't see any difference at all... Compare the surface area of the skeg (minimal) to the rest of the drive. The skeg does NOT provide much turning force based on that alone. The angled shape of it actually makes it a VERY poor rudder.

With a movable prop setup you really don't need ANY rudder surface at all while underway, that is what your props are providing. The rudder surface provides turning ability with power off.

Well, that was my experience. Happy boating.

 

[pbmang]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

If you have hydrolic steering, you will probably not notice any difference. If your boat has steering cables, there is a good chance you will feel a shake/shimmy.

 

[QC]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

shake/shimmy = sumpin' bent . . . My .02 Moving to I/O section.

Welcome aboard BooBoo

 

[searay3]

Re: Noob makes a booboo

Skeg makes a poor prop protector. Gotta bench full of bent props where the skeg was no help. As far as steering performance, it has little or no effect. If you are feeling a shimmy or vibration, check the prop and prop shaft. Something is bent. If aluminum, chances are the prop is not bent enough to see it, but enough to feel it when under power. There are a lot of boats around here running without skegs..