Broken skeg on an Alpha One drive

ggundersen3

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
249
I'm looking at a '99 19' Maxum with a MerCruiser 4.3L Alpha One drive. The skeg is broke. Whats the best way to fix that? Is there an after market skeg that can be mounted somehow? Does a replacement have to be weld on? Is it OK to operate the boat without one? See photos
 

Attachments

  • photo327264.jpg
    photo327264.jpg
    380.9 KB · Views: 9
  • photo327265.jpg
    photo327265.jpg
    388.8 KB · Views: 9

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,290
Is it OK to operate the boat without one?

Ayuh,...... No Problem,.......

There are bolt-on, 'n epoxy on replacements, though that one maybe to short for a bolt-on,......

The proper fix is to pull the lower unit, 'n weld on a new one,.....
 

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,445
Have to agree ,a bit short, a new replacement lower is about 600
 

Rick Stephens

Admiral
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
6,118
I would weld a new one on. Clean it up, fab fit a replacement. Pack on the heat block to keep the gearbox coolish. Any propeller shop can do it fast. I have a welding shop and would have no issue, but I've also spent some time wrenching on drives so know what the risks are to the seals if I let them get hot. A good welding shop can do this in a short period of time if they understand and handle properly the risks.

You can run it that way. No problem.... except touching down with your prop. That skeg keeps the prop from dragging, in the wet or on the trailer. Get it fixed as soon as you can. Weld on!
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Merc sell a weld on replacement. You have a Gen II (I see the anode on the bearing carrier), so the part number is -90185A1
Should cost you about $80...

Chris.....
 

Rick Stephens

Admiral
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
6,118
Take the dash off his number (90185A1) if you go looking for it at any of the Merc parts dealers. I tried to search at iBoats and all I get is Forbidden error page. Search is broken.

Last one I fixed I just fabbed up the skeg from aircraft alum. Wasn't hard.
 

andrewterri

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 25, 2014
Messages
437
With how smooth that is it looks like someone might have forgotten to raise the drive when pulling out of the water.
 
Top