Broken Skeg

[zippy83]

Hi all,

I have a 2021 200HP Mercury pro xs.. I recently hit a rock and broke off my skeg. I know there are options to weld on a replacement skeg, but I would
Rather do an insurance claim and get the lower unit replaced.

Any advice other then watch where you going?
Thanks
Zip

 

[racerone]

Get a fish finder / GPS / Map unit for around $1000----Some have every lake and river on them.----Will tell you where there are no rocks !

 

[Scott Danforth]

your insurance company may insist on repair vs replace. talk to your agent.

GPS works if the area was mapped

regarding not hitting the rocks. best sign I ever saw was "Warning, local knowledge required" then again that was talking about the shifting channels down at Big Pass in Sarasota.

 

[tpenfield]

Hi all,

I have a 2021 200HP Mercury pro xs.. I recently hit a rock and broke off my skeg. I know there are options to weld on a replacement skeg, but I would
Rather do an insurance claim and get the lower unit replaced.

Any advice other then watch where you going?
Thanks
Zip

Not sure the insurance company will entertain your claim for a lower unit. If they do, just be prepared for the following year when you get the renewal pricing

 

[Chris1956]

Mercury used to sell replacement skegs. The old one was trimmed and the new one cut to fit, and welded onto the gearcase. A little marine putty to fill in the weld marks, some primer and black paint, and it will be good as new. If you pick a good welder, you do can leave the gearcase full of oil and none of the seals will be damaged. However, it likely costs 1/2 as much (or more) as a new aftermarket gearcase.

Check out the prices for a new SEI gearcase. They are likely under $1000. Not sure what your insurance and any deductibles will do for you.

 

[zippy83]

Get a fish finder / GPS / Map unit for around $1000----Some have every lake and river on them.----Will tell you where there are no rocks !

I have two units with two different maps that have been updated last month. Neither showed any rock on this spot.

 

[racerone]

I looked at a fish finder / map unit a few years ago.----It had a small lake ( 3 square kilometers ) and in the middle of nowhere loaded on it.----I have saved in my favorites a word map.----Shows just about everything.----Argentina, Antarctica , Australia ETC.

 

[zippy83]

your insurance company may insist on repair vs replace. talk to your agent.

GPS works if the area was mapped

regarding not hitting the rocks. best sign I ever saw was "Warning, local knowledge required" then again that was talking about the shifting channels down at Big Pass in Sarasota.

I agree

 

[racerone]

Years ago I was sailing a 30' boat.----No depth sounder.----Looked at my charts.----If you are unsure you go slow.-----Looked over my shoulder and saw a bigger sailboat headed to the same spot.----Slowed down even more and let them pass me.----Followed them in.----If they were to hit something I had time to stop.

 

[tphoyt]

We have a big rock in my local waters that had damaged 100’s of boats. It was finally marked in 2001 after a long battle from a 95 year old man man that hit the rock in 1934. It was on the charts but had no visible marker and it was just under the surface and the size of a car.
There are many more around here. The boat yards love them as they keep bringing in the business.

 

[racerone]

In some areas that get cold / iced up in winter , big rocks get lifted by ICE and drop of where the ice gets stuck and melts.----Charts may not show that in spring.

 

[jimmbo]

Replacing the Housing, and using the Old Internals, will likely require a complete reshimming of the Gears. Makes sure the Propshaft didn't get bent, quite likely to happen when a SS Prop is installed.

 

[Chris1956]

I have not priced out a new gearcase housing, but the work involved is swapping the internals plus the special tools and know-how necessary will make it difficult.

At least price out a new gearcase from SEI. Mercruiser used to rebuild outdrives for $2K. At that time SEI sold new ones for $1100, causing MerCruiser to rethink their pricing.

SEI also sells new gearcases for popular outboards as well.

 

[jimmbo]

In the End, I doubt the Insurance Company is going to spring for a New Gearcase, if only the Skeg is damaged.

 

[JimS123]

They make skeg savers that merely bolt on the bottom. Not too expensive and easy peasy. No sense to buy an outdrive or have a welded fix it. Nobody will even notice when you are in the water.

 

[jimmbo]

Those bolt on things have Bolt Heads and Nuts protruding into the Water Flow, in front of the Prop. Could lead to Cavitation Issues. I did say Cavitation, not Ventilation

 

[JimS123]

Those bolt on things have Bolt Heads and Nuts protruding into the Water Flow, in front of the Prop. Could lead to Cavitation Issues. I did say Cavitation, not Ventilation

Some of the newer ones are polymer and glue on. I don't know if they work better, but they are cheaper.

OK, bolts. Is this a fishing boat, or a Reggie Fountain tournament boat?

I dunno. Regardless, me thinks that a "regular" speeds it would not be a problem. But I'll defer to documentation.

 

[jimmbo]

I would prefer to cut the damaged Skeg off and have a replacement welded on. Of course if the Welder doesn't know what they are doing, some odd LU Geometry can result

 

[tpenfield]

I'm not a fan of putting more stainless steel on the outdrive. So, I fixed a broken skeg with a piece of aluminum, JB-Weld and some CSM for strength.
.

.

.

.
It held up quite well.

 

[tphoyt]

Looks good as new.
Did you use any resin in glass or just trowel in the job weld?