Skeg repair options for 1975 Mercury 50hp

[wrunner74]

Yesterday I hit a rock and knocked a chunk of the skeg off. I did not seem to affect handling at all. I did some quick research and see there is a bolt on skeg guard option for repair. Problem is, I can't find a 1974 mercury in any of the application sheets. It's been welded twice in the past, so the stainless guard would be great. I see several varieties by different manufacturers. Can anyone recommend a good product?

 

[Woodonglass]

Got Pics? You can repair them yourself pretty easily IF it's not to bad.

 

[wrunner74]

It's a moderate chip, maybe 1.5 to 2 inches missing. Did not affect handling at all...but prop protection is gone. Skeg Guard would def work...now to get one for a 1974 Mercury 50 hp. Waiting to hear from the vendor. Will post pics later today. Not too bad.

The funny thing about this story is that when the old boy bought this boat in 1974, he had my bother and I take the Power Squadron course so we would be as knowledgeable as he was in boating. I was only 12 or 13 years old. We all passed the course, so the first time out, we were heading from Jefferson Park landing in Menasha out to lake Winnebago. I haven't been out that way in a while, but there is a red buoy to a mark a hazard and the channel, well we started arguing about the "red on right when returning from sea" rule...Pops considered the lake "sea" and we argue that the ocean, which is downstream a few hundred miles was "sea"...Well, we lost to the old man and he went on the wrong side of the buoy and tore the skeg off, about the same as it is today....lol

 

[wrunner74]

No Title

Here is a photo of the damages...a bit worse than I described perhaps. Still, enough skeg to protect prop a little.

 

[dozerII]

Your a little too far away from me to stop by and we could weld a new piece on. Check out one of your local welding shops, You could take a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum and shape it up real close to the profile you need then just have the shop weld it on. When I did mine I used wet rags to keep the gear housing cool and welded the piece on about an inch at a time.

 

[wrunner74]

I called the local prop repair shop, they want $150 to weld a new skeg on. This motor does not have power tnt, so I need something more robust. Skeg Guard and Panther have products that are perfect but nobody seems to want to help me find a model that is a close match. Here is my outline and dimensions.

 

[dozerII]

A prop repair/ boat shop is going to be more expensive than a regular welding shop. If you make the piece and to all the prep work to get the lower unit and replacement piece ready it should take no longer that 1/2 an hour to weld up.

 

[wrunner74]

I found a better solution than welding...a Panther Skeg Guard for $79 on ebay. model 35-SS650 looks like it should work for this old motor. Thanks for the info tho.

 

[wrunner74]

No Title

Here's a few pictures, before and after...$75 and a can of paint...back on the water.

 

[Frey0357]

Great fix! Good luck out there...and stay away from those pesky rocks!

Frey