Skeg questions

[nor2345]

I believe I already know the answer to this question but if someone would be so kind and give me some info I'd apprecialte it greatly. I have a pontoon boat with a 50hp Yamaha. Yesterday I hit a rock and trashed the prop. Here's the question...is the lower fin (I think it's called a skeg), supposed to be perfectly straight? I think it is so here's some more questions...since the tip of mine is bent slightly to the left about 3/16" (if your standing at the back of the boat looking at the motor) can I "tap" it back straight with a rubber mallet without worring about snapping off the whoe fin? Tricky question I know but I'm not familiar with watercraft motors especially the aluminum that is used in them. My last question: does it really matter if it is off (if it is), and should I just leave it alone?

 

[kentuckyguy]

Re: Skeg questions

I believe I already know the answer to this question but if someone would be so kind and give me some info I'd apprecialte it greatly. I have a pontoon boat with a 50hp Yamaha. Yesterday I hit a rock and trashed the prop. Here's the question...is the lower fin (I think it's called a skeg), supposed to be perfectly straight? I think it is so here's some more questions...since the tip of mine is bent slightly to the left about 3/16" (if your standing at the back of the boat looking at the motor) can I "tap" it back straight with a rubber mallet without worring about snapping off the whoe fin? Tricky question I know but I'm not familiar with watercraft motors especially the aluminum that is used in them. My last question: does it really matter if it is off (if it is), and should I just leave it alone?

I wouldnt try and bend it back.. It might break.. I had a 20 foot party kraft with a 40 H.P. johnson.. The bottom fin was bent.. The only time I could tell was when the trim was all the way down.. It would try and pull to the left.. Once I trimmed it up some it would track straight...

 

[5150abf]

Re: Skeg questions

I have done that, you want to use 2 hammers, a tapper and a backer.

Put one just above where it si bent and tap the otherside with the hammer, the backer just needs to be something heavy and the tapper should be steel.

Go after it real slow, get it in 20 taps rather than 2 whacks, cast aluminum is kinda brittle adn will break.