Damaged lower unit

[jadmerc]

The skeg on my lower unit is bent and chipped. Mercruiser 3.0 Alpha. I was told by my repair shop that the skeg coud be cut off and a new one welded on. Is this advisable and what will the heat do to the inernal parts. Is this a common practice?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Damaged lower unit

I would not say it is common but it has been done a lot of times. If it is too bent to heat and straighten I would not be affraid of it. However I would also ask that when done they at least pressure test the lower unit. Better yet have them replace the lower unit seals and pressure test.

 

[BinLurkin]

Re: Damaged lower unit

It's not a problem, except getting the paint to stick to the new skeg. Every time I pull out of the water it is bare. All the black paint & primer is gone. I recently picked up a mercruiser that had the skeg worn off. I bought a new skeg right here ($20.oo I think) & had it welded on at the local shop. It sure steers better now. I think the lower unit came down on the way home & they towed the boat home that way & that ground off the skeg. Probably wrecked the prop too. I put some oil in the hydraulic system & now the lower unit stays up. I also have a steel bar gizmo that holds it up too.

 

[Don S]

Re: Damaged lower unit

Be careful of where it's welded, and how hot it gets. Don't let them weld too close to the bullet area, as the welding will distort the housing and make it impossible to get apart or back together if it warps. The bearing carrier and the bearings are very close tolerance fits inside the housing.<br /><br /><br />

 

[Bondo]

Re: Damaged lower unit

My Good Friend, Donny Badour, of Don's Prop Shop, in Clayton, Ny. does this repair At Least 100 times a year.........<br />It's a very common, do it everyday repair........<br /><br />Just Remember, You Don't want a Proctoligist doing Brain Surgery........................

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Damaged lower unit

Like Boatist asked, is it an option to heat & straighten it and put a skeg guard on instead?