Broken Skeg Tip...Repairable?

[chartspromo]

Hello! First time poster.

Today I went to look at a 2009 Sea Ray 175 Sport. It all was in good shape except that the very end of the skeg was broken off, a couple inch piece. I guess the owner said it was a bit bent so he went to straighten it out and it just broke...

I know its easy to repair dings and knicks with just JB weld, then sanding etc. I've attached 2 pictures showing where it is broken.

Should this a reason I should stay away from the boat? I have no idea how one could put this back on. Maybe there is some sort of weld. Or maybe you could get away with just leaving it as is? I'm not not sure.

Was just hoping to get some opinions on what I should do. I'm not sure if JB welding this one would make it strong enough if it were to come into contact with a rock etc.?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jimmbo]

I would run it as is, just make sure what is there isn't bent or twisted. I suspect the previous Owner had no Clue as to how to correctly straighten bent Aluminium

 

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[tpenfield]

Since you have the piece, it could be welded back on or even JB Weld it back on.

I did a skeg repair with JB Weld and some chopped strand mat (CSM) and it held up nicely.

 

[Chris1956]

Mercury used to make replacement skegs that could be welded on. You need to hire a good welder, who knows how to weld it w/o melting the seals, else you need to strip out the gears and seals.

In your particular case, a skeg guard or some JB weld to smooth out the jagged stuff likely works.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Leave it or have the tip welded back on.

 

[garbageguy]

Good info above on the skeg.

Seeing that would make me leery of how that boat was understood, operated, and maintained in the past - so it would make me look even closer at everything. All of that could give you bargaining power if you are not bothered with anything else you find

 

[QBhoy]

Hi. You can buy replacement skegs. But they need to be absolutely fitted, by someone that knows what they are doing. Involves cutting the old one right back, prepping and welding the new one on. All whilst not conducting enough heat towards or through bearings and other vulnerable areas…not to mention setting anything on fire or the skill required to perform such a thing on aluminium.

 

[Scott06]

A decent prop repair shop can weld that back up no issue. it is a minor damage certainly fairly normal in the course of a boats life, certainly not a reason to not by the boat

 

[Sprig]

A decent prop repair shop can weld that back up no issue. it is a minor damage certainly fairly normal in the course of a boats life, certainly not a reason to not by the boat

This ^^^^^^

 

[tank1949]

Hello! First time poster.

Today I went to look at a 2009 Sea Ray 175 Sport. It all was in good shape except that the very end of the skeg was broken off, a couple inch piece. I guess the owner said it was a bit bent so he went to straighten it out and it just broke...

I know its easy to repair dings and knicks with just JB weld, then sanding etc. I've attached 2 pictures showing where it is broken.

Should this a reason I should stay away from the boat? I have no idea how one could put this back on. Maybe there is some sort of weld. Or maybe you could get away with just leaving it as is? I'm not not sure.

Was just hoping to get some opinions on what I should do. I'm not sure if JB welding this one would make it strong enough if it were to come into contact with a rock etc.?

Thanks in advance!View attachment 389125View attachment 389124

any decent TIG welder can fix this. Just be sure he knows prop seals will melt if too hot. TIG will get hot.

 

[stresspoint]

seen worse than that around here , just file the rough edges of paint it black and run it .

 

[BRICH1260]

Unless you really want to spend the money just run it as is. It will not effect the functionality.

 

[Scott06]

Unless you really want to spend the money just run it as is. It will not effect the functionality.

The only reason to repair it is if the prop is larger in diameter than the now shorter skeg... If you bottom out on some thing hard it will lift the back of the boat up and not damage the prop.

Had this happen to me as our dock is in a very shallow cove. Idling out in gear outdrive most of way up, back end lifts up as I go over a log, no damage to prop

 

[harringtondav]

Most prop repair shops can repair it. Either by welding the tip back on, or building the skeg back up and shaping it. ...second is the best repair.

 

[QBhoy]

The only reason to repair it is if the prop is larger in diameter than the now shorter skeg... If you bottom out on some thing hard it will lift the back of the boat up and not damage the prop.

Had this happen to me as our dock is in a very shallow cove. Idling out in gear outdrive most of way up, back end lifts up as I go over a log, no damage to prop

Suppose it’s best to get it as it’s designed to be. Helps with slow speed or out of gear directional control a little…but more than that…I’d imagine for folks in warmer waters…helps with heat dissipation too perhaps.

 

[Scott06]

Suppose it’s best to get it as it’s designed to be. Helps with slow speed or out of gear directional control a little…but more than that…I’d imagine for folks in warmer waters…helps with heat dissipation too perhaps.

I think it is mostly protecting the prop from a strike. I lost a bunch of each blade when my neighbor loaded my old boat on the trailer drive was still down... this was after previously giving the skeg a hair cut... had it been repaired skeg would have had some damage from the ramp but prop would not have had all 3 blades an inch shorter...

 

[Chris1956]

Props are a lot cheaper to wear down than gearcase skegs. So either pull the drive up (best) or repair it to protect the prop. I paid about $250 to repair a skeg, 15 years ago. That includes the replacement skeg and the welding. I pulled the gearcase myself.

 

[Scott Danforth]

FWIW, the last skeg on a boat I paid to have welded was about $50..... About 20 years ago. Took the marina the same time lunch took next door

I did bribe one of the welders 5 years ago with some beer to weld up the skeg on a lower unit not mounted

 

[Scott06]

Props are a lot cheaper to wear down than gearcase skegs. So either pull the drive up (best) or repair it to protect the prop. I paid about $250 to repair a skeg, 15 years ago. That includes the replacement skeg and the welding. I pulled the gearcase myself.

Depends on what prop you are running. Price some of the higher end stainless and what you paid for the skeg repair is a lot cheaper. Last time i had my SS 4 blade fixed it was just under $300 so pick your poison