running with a damaged skeg

[the_anarchy16]

friend of mine just picked up his new to him boat..... well long story short i get a call about 10 last night that he made a mistake in the driveway and took the bottom off his skeg he said its about 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 inch up from the bottom and bent over..... he straightened it. whats sideffects will this have and what should he do?

forget about it

get it welded

get skeg gard

ect?

thanks all

 

[AndrewsArk]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

The Skeg is really there to protect the prop. It's fine to run without it but I'd still probably get it repaired just he doesn't destroy the prop if he hits something in the water. Not a huge issue that has to get done immediately though.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

It will have very little effect on performance. If he wants to repair it, I like these http://www.blackfinskeg.com/home/in...category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=30

 

[the_anarchy16]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

thx guys he will be happy. thats what i figured. can he not just get it welded though? he has the part that broke off and aluminum doesent get that hot. with the oil in to regulate it i would think welding would be easiest/cheapest

 

[ezmobee]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Sure, they do it all the time.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

He can simply take the boat to a prop shop or other marine repair place and get it repaired. Usually costs less than $100 and it'll look as good as new. We've done it a couple of times, and as long as the skeg isn't broken off too close to the gear housing, it's repairable.

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Less than $100? Where did you take yours?

If it's a "new-to-your-friend" boat, take it and get it fixed. They are probably going to have to pull the outdrive, so be prepared for that. While they are at it have them replace the water impeller. The bellows, seals, and gimble bearing should also be examined and replaced if needed too. It might cost around $200-$400 depending on what they find. Tell you buddy welcome to the I/O club!

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Cost me $80 to get a new skeg on my OB motor near Lake Lewisville, Texas.

Shouldn't cost more than $100 to get it done.

It's easy to pull your own outdrive / lower unit.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

i'd say do it yourself but being aluminum you cant just take the average welder and start in on it. i believe with aluminum it needs to be helium gas, other then that depending where it was bent or broke of at it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[V153]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Find a good aluminum welder. Welding shop next door to my shop does it all the time and the results look like new. BillyBob is a master.

I disagree with those that say the skeg is only there to protect the prop and doesn't effect performance. Yes perhaps on a larger boat with I/O that might be true. But if you're running an O/B at an elevated height with a surfacing or semi-surfacing prop. The skeg is an integral control surface.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

My skeg was broken completely off and it was TIG welded back on without removing anything for $150.00. I didn't even have to provide the old piece they just made a new one.

 

[V153]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

I didn't even have to provide the old piece they just made a new one

The problem of tearing off a skeg is so common here that the welder boys next door don't even mess with with makin em from scratch. They can order a replacement skeg & have it delivered in the time it takes to fabricate one ...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Less than $100? Where did you take yours?

If it's a "new-to-your-friend" boat, take it and get it fixed. They are probably going to have to pull the outdrive, so be prepared for that. While they are at it have them replace the water impeller. The bellows, seals, and gimble bearing should also be examined and replaced if needed too. It might cost around $200-$400 depending on what they find. Tell you buddy welcome to the I/O club!

I took mine to a local prop shop here in Okla., but I don't imagine the price is too much more steep in other areas. Most marine repair shop have new skegs on-hand if needed and will weld them on so that you'd never know it was damaged. Mie was broken when a contractor moved my boat with a tractor and the steep driveway broke it off. SOB never mentioned it either.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

I took mine to a local prop shop here in Okla., but I don't imagine the price is too much more steep in other areas. Most marine repair shop have new skegs on-hand if needed and will weld them on so that you'd never know it was damaged. Mie was broken when a contractor moved my boat with a tractor and the steep driveway broke it off. SOB never mentioned it either.

Haulnazz......are you on the www.fordf150.net forum too?

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Less than a $100 is a good deal. The intent of my post was to prepare the poster's friend they might have to remove the outdrive/lower end unit. If they do that, you might as well have them replace the water impeller and anything else. The condition of the poster's friends skeg doesn't sound too bad.

When I bought my I/O the skeg was damaged. Looks like Jaws had taken a big bite out of it. I took it to a prop shop they needed to take the outdrive off. Since they had to do that I also had them service the outdrive since it was a new-to-me boat.

So besides welding the skeg they also:
fixed a few dings in prop
replaced water impeller
replaced gimble bearing
replaced some misc seals
repaired small dent in nose of outdrive. Seller hid it by filling it with bond-o, sanded it smooth, and painting it.
---
total damage was $500. About $250 for welding and prop repair the rest went to a mobile marine tech that removed outdrive and replaced parts.

My overall point is I went in for a simple skeg repair and they found other things that really needed to be changed. This happens on a new boat. You have to assume the seller didn't do any maintenance.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Haulnazz......are you on the www.fordf150.net forum too?

Yessir.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Yessir.

Ya, we've communicated in the past before. My screen name over there is "Texas Ford".

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

Ya, we've communicated in the past before. My screen name over there is "Texas Ford".

I knew I liked you. Well, aside from that whole being from Texass thing. lol.

 

[the_anarchy16]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

thanks guys he is very mechanically inclined so im not worried about him being able to do the work we just didnt now the best was to proceed. he is going to get it welded although it will most likly get run that as is a few times.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: running with a damaged skeg

I knew I liked you. Well, aside from that whole being from Texass thing. lol.

Lol, I hear ya bro!

We were just up in your neck of the woods over the memorial day weekend. We went to Okmulgee and met up with a few jet boat bubbas up there. Good time for sure!