Question about broken piece on outboard

[Fox16]

My motor is a 1996 48 special. What is the broken piece in the picture and is it important?

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Question about broken piece on outboard

That's a trim skeg to correct for hard steering pull in either direction.

 

[Fox16]

Re: Question about broken piece on outboard

Thank You. My boat doesn't pull but i guess it should be fixed

 

[bullbat]

Re: Question about broken piece on outboard

your really need to have it because it also absorbs corrosion to keep your engine from corroding

 

[Fox16]

Re: Question about broken piece on outboard

I looked up skegs and they seem to be shaped like fins?

 

[F_R]

Re: Question about broken piece on outboard

You realize of course that the fin is busted off?

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Question about broken piece on outboard

It is a skeg, looks like it was installed at quite an angle if the bolt hasnt been moved.... P/N 0340539. They arnt made of zinc so it's not a corrosion inhibitor.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Question about broken piece on outboard

If you are gonna break something it may as well have a single bolt holding it on eh.

It isn't "important" as in the engine wil run without it but if it weren't needed they wouldn't have put it on.

Order a new one and once you get it you may need to adjust it a couple times to get the boat to run straight, normally without that the boat will pull to one side or the other from prop walk, the motor wants to go in the direction of prop rotation and that little fin counters that effect.