Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

[crqflier]

Looked at a boat today that I'm seriously considering buy - a 2006 Monterey 214FS. This would be my first boat. The entire boat looks really clean and the current owner seems extremely meticulus. Two things struck me as a little odd.

1. The bottom inch or so of the skeg is slightly bent latterally by about 1/4" maybe 1/2". Looking from directly behind the bottom offsets to the right. There are no chunck out of it at all.

2. Looking through the maintenance records, the engine was aligned a year ago.

I'm wondering how the skeg could get bent like that - seems like brittle cast metal, not something that would bend.

Is it possible that whatever bent the skeg also cause the engine to shift? Seems like that would be a huge impact. Simply didn't see any other damage that would indicate a hit that severe.

If there was a big hit, should I be worried about a bent shaft in the outdrive?

By the way, there was a new prop on the boat. Didn't think to ask why.

Stay away from this boat? No big deal? Appreciate any comments.

 

[krazykatz911]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

If you are serious about this boat, have a certified marine mechanic do an inspection on the boat, and DRIVE the boat. Pick a mechanic yourself, do not use the owner's mechanic.

Skegs can get bent from an impact, most times if the impact was bad, it would of snapped the skeg clean off. The fact of them getting the motor aligned and a new prop is signs that the driveline took a really bad hit, probably destroyed the prop, and bent the skeg.

It it were me, I would stay away from it.

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

I'm sure your engine is bigger than mine but the skeg on my 25 horse Evinrude got both bent to one side and a lost a small chunk off the end when a sudden high wind blew my boat into a rock bank with the engine running. I was sitting next to the bank with the engine running when the wind hit and I threw it into gear and revved the engine up as I tried to avoid hitting the bank. I didn't see exactly what caused the damage, but as near as I could figure, I must have picked up a chunk of rock between prop and skeg. Both prop and skeg were damaged but prop shaft was not hurt.

I too was surprised that the aluminum would bend. Didn't seem to affect handling or steering at all though.

 

[crqflier]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

Thanks for the comments. It's a 5.0 GXi engine. We ran it on land, engaged the prop, forward, reverse, side/side, up/down. All seemed to be functioning well. No weird vibes or noises. I'm planning to call the owner back and ask some detailed questions unless the consensus is to stay away. Anyone else? Thanks.

 

[mikel1291979]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

Put the boat in the water and actually drive it. Starting it on muffs is not at all the same. Put some load on the boat to see how it really runs.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

the engine alignment on an I/O should be checked and adjusted if needed any time the drive is removed and every couple seasons.... THAT is a sign of a responsible owner and a knowledgeable mechanic.... It takes very little to bend a skeg and yeah usually it is something between the skeg and prop.... Don't sweat it BUT DEFINITELY sea trial the boat before buying it.

You would be AMAZED at how many boats on the water now need to have the engine alignment adjusted.

 

[zagger]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

I've beached my boat on soft sandy bank years ago to run up and use the bathroom (no old jokes ). That night I noticed my skeg was little bent. What happened is that another boat came by and the wake rocked my boat and bent the skeg against the sand. The fact that is bent does not necessarily mean horrific impact and like Smokeonthewater mentioned aligning the engine could be a sign of diligent owner. Always test the boat in the water and have a marine mechanic inspect it for you. Good luck.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

They bend, push too far they break. Cost to replace isn't all that much if everything else about the boat satisfies you.
I think our local Merc shop charges around $300 for a replacement. The outdrive can absorb some shock without transmitting the damage to the rest of the drivetrain. Take it out for a run and see. Ask the owner how it got bent, hopefully he'll be straight.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

My neighbor trailered his boat back from Florida a few weeks ago. He had the OB motor down, such that everyonce in a while it would hit the road due to the recoil from a bump. The skeg has a slight flair and is bent to the port side slightly. It does not appear to have affected anything else.

Not all damage is water-caused.

I think the gearcase castings are treated to make them a bit softer, so they do not crack too easy.

 

[crqflier]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

Thanks for all the great perspective. There were several other items on the repair order that had the engine alignment including work on the bellows, fluid changes, etc. The current owner had over $2k of work done after he purchased it 18 months ago. The owner offered without my prompting a sea trial whenever/wherever I wanted - a change from some owners i've talked to who declined and were put off by a request for sea trial. The boat is nice and the owner seemed a stand up guy so I'll call, test, and proceed with some caution.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

I bought my boat in 1990. The skeg wasnt bent, in had been broken off and re welded back on. 21 yrs later, still running strong. A bent skeg isnt a death sentence... I M H O

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

Yeah, good advice above, sea trial, have mechanic look at it. That is a nice boat so if the price is good and it checks out, have fun!

 

[Bluepike]

Re: Slightly bent skeg and Engine Alignment

If I were in the market for another used boat and the owner had not had the engine alignment checked sometime in the past couple of years, that would make me question the maintenance or lack of quicker then having had it done recently. If the outdrive had chunks missing from it, that would be a different story.