Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

[Fiat4Fun]

Howdy,
After hitting a rock, the prop has been replaced, but now it's time to straighten the keg on a Alpha One.
I have read about hitting it with a hammer with a block of wood behind it, but it makes me nervous to use a hammer.

I thought about using some 2x4's, one on each side, and using a couple of those furniture vises and slowly apply pressure. Anyone use this approach or see anything wrong with this approach,

No real nicks in it, but it is bent to one side........
Thanks
Bob

 

[180shabah]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

Skip the vise, that is the fastest way to break it.

The hammer and dolly method is the safest - just remember, work slowly, you are NOT trying to have it straight in three hits.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

You don't say how much it's bent but if it's not causing any issues why not leave it alone?

I just bent mine and adjusted the trim tab to compensate for a pull to the left.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

No real nicks in it, but it is bent to one side........

Best way to not break it is to leave it alone. Mine was bent for years, and was just fine till it ran aground and broke it off. (prop shop fixed it as good as new)

 

[Fiat4Fun]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

Thanks for the responses,

I just hate the look, I really would like it to be straight!

OK< thanks for the advise on the clamp method.
Can you explain the dolly part? I understand using a hammer, and a backing, but not heard of the "dolly"?

Thanks for the advice,
I thought about taking it to the local dealer, but if it is easy, I thought I could handle it!!!!

Thanks,
Bob

 

[wire2]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

A curve in the skeg will make it pull one way trimmed out, the opposite trimmed in. It's a bit of a nuisance.

When a skeg is bent by impact, the cast aluminum stretches on 1 side. Forcing it back with a vise will stretch it on the opposite side, (the original stretch becomes a fulcrum). Now it's weakened on both sides in the same line.

Placing a heavy weight behind the tip, then hammer the stretched area with repeated blows will compress the metal again, give you the best chance of saving it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

Can you explain the dolly part? I understand using a hammer, and a backing, but not heard of the "dolly"?

Ayuh,... The Backing is called a Dolly...

 

[45Auto]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

Be prepared to replace the skeg if you try to straighten it. As pointed out above, it'll most likely break. I had about a half-inch bend in the bottom half of mine and it broke when I tried to "slowly and gently" straighten it with a hydraulic press. It never bent back at all, just snapped in half. You can see it in this thread:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=282896&highlight=lucky

 

[OldNBold51]

Re: Bending a skeg with a "vise"?

Slow bending almost always breaks aluminum. Fewer sharp, heavy blows work best.