Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

[Ralph 123]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

You can fix you skeg with a skeg guard. Takes about 10 minutes to install. It also protects what you have left. You can find them on eBay for like $100 just search eBay for "skeg guard"<br /><br />here<br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4547508637

 

[krasavage]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

First, thanks for all the responses. Now I feel even worse since the concensus is that the prop should NOT have simply spun off. Based on the comments, here is what I'm concluding: (1) perhaps prop was not as tightly secured as should have been (2) yes, new boater so I didn't throttle down as fast as I should have (reaction time was slow not realizing what was happening initially) (3) after stopping, I DID put it in reverse but I think that was only after trying it in fwd and getting no motion so I think the prop was already gone by that point. I will check the rotation to see if fwd tightens or loosens the nut. <br /><br />Also, in my previous post I said that the hub wasn't rubber but I suppose if it is very hard rubber I may have mistaken it for being solid metal. And TOMMAYS makes a good point that if the hub is metal and locked rotationally with the prop, then the spinning prop couldn't turn the nut off anyway. So I'm going to talk to the Sea Ray dealer about it and see what they say and will post what I find out.

 

[krasavage]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

PUREBREED,<br />Yes, boating on the Fox River 14 miles south of the Chain of Lakes. I'm hoping that I can purchase a detailed navigation map that shows the depths and any obstructions. Yes, I should have had this before I got on the water. I found out later that they have not yet put all the bouys along the problem areas and I happend to venture into the area. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[krasavage]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

One other thing: Installed new prop (original Vengence SS) and tested boat. Everything seems to be operating fine. But I have noticed that it seems (could be my imagination possibly given I've only used the boat twice) that the trim now does not go as high as it did before the bottom strike. It will still "trailer" up all the way, but when trimming it up with the trim switch, it seems to stop sooner than it used to. Could this be because of the hit? Is this a setting that is adjustable? Thanks.

 

[krasavage]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

Regarding the skeg repair: <br /><br />Given the small "bite", I think I'm going to simply let it be for this season and then look into welding during the off season. If the welding is much more than $100, I'll probably try the SkegGuard (which runs about $109 for my boat based on their website). Skegguard might be nice since it seems like it would resist chipping/denting much better given it is SS vs. Aluminum. Any other comments from SkegGuard users would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[krasavage]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

SkegGuard vs. SkegPro:<br /><br />OK, any thougths on which is better? For about the same price (SkegGuard maybe $20-$30 more expensive) seems like the SkegGuard might be better given it covers the entire skeg rather than just the leading edge. Maybe this topic should be moved to a more appropriate thread?

 

[gixx1000]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

i am no pro but a freind of mine left his trim down coming out the water & bent his hydrlic shafts.motor would still trim up but not much.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

A skeggard is a complete cap - covers your whole skeg (or what is left of it) all you need is 2 - 3" of your skeg remaining to repair it and is made in the shape of the original skeg. The skeggard also have a "skid plate" on the bottom to prevent ramp damage and alike. It's also design with special bolts that shear if you hit hard allowing the skeggard to save your skeg and lower end.<br /><br />It looks like the skeg pro just fits onto the leading edge and bottom of the skeg (like a hockey stick in shape) so it won't repair a broken skeg. That must be how they got around the patent.<br /><br />I have them on my twin Alpha 1s and they are great. They look nice and have save me from doing damage several times when I've found bottom.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

One other thing: Installed new prop (original Vengence SS) and tested boat. Everything seems to be operating fine. But I have noticed that it seems (could be my imagination possibly given I've only used the boat twice) that the trim now does not go as high as it did before the bottom strike. It will still "trailer" up all the way, but when trimming it up with the trim switch, it seems to stop sooner than it used to. Could this be because of the hit?

The impact could have done some damage to the trim limit switch which is located on the drive.<br /><br />

Is this a setting that is adjustable?

Yes this is adjustable and should be covered in your manuel. <br /><br />If you are talking about bow lift, from trimming while running, lack of bow lift was probably a result of the new props design.

 

[steve n carol]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

"probably couldnt get out of throttle very fast" <br /><br /><br /> .....How fast is fast enough?????? <br /><br /><br />even at slow speeds????????????<br /><br /><br />'nuff said....sl

 

[Rhadley]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

Have you considered scuba diving down to retreive the prop?

 

[austin123]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

Originally posted by NewSeaRay210:<br /> I guess there's a chance the prop wasn't tightened down enough to start with and hitting the bottom caused it to spin all rest of the way off? I can't imagine it was loose. I watched the prior owner (very knowledgeable) install it myself using a prop wrench.

I have always viewed prop wrenches as something you have on the boat with your spare prop. I would never use a plastic prop wrench as a tightening tool at home but use it maybe to install the nut then get my torque wrench and tighten to owners manual specs. In reality however most people probably do not use a torque wrench but just use a ratchet & socket and make sure its "tight tight", then bend over the tabs that line up.

 

[phatasswj]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

Having taken a chunk of my skeg out on god knows what on the Illinois River last weekend, I went to my Volvo dealer in Plainfield (IL) and asked whether I should have it welded, or get a SkegGuard/SkegPro. What he said made a lot of sense - <br /><br />The 'give' that the skeg provides when it cracks, if reinforced by a SkegGuard or SkegPro, would otherwise cause harm to something in the outdrive or the transom. Thus, welding is the best choice and the route I'll be taking.

 

[phatasswj]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

Forgot to mention... if you decide to go with a SkegGard, I have sources where they're only $50.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Hit bottom on Maiden Voyage!

I'm not sure your dealer really knows how skeggards work. Skegguards are designed with special hardware that will shear prior to allowing damage to the lower end. If you lose 1 of the fasteners in a collision your skeggard will still be attached and you just replace 1 fastener. If it's hard enough to shear both, the skeggard may come off and you'll need to retrieve it (heck you're in shallow water, take a look and see if you can retrieve it).<br /><br />Skeggards and skegpros are not nearly the same thing. A skeggard is a complete cap and/or replacement for your exact model skeg. A skegpro is just a small "L" shaped guard the protects just the leading edge of the skeg - it will not repair or replace a broken skeg unless it happens to be just the bottom inch or two. Skeggards typically also have a skid plate on the bottom for added protection. Skegpros are mounted with just a screw. They require you to grind your skeg to achieve a tight fit and rely on the simple screw to hold it in place!!! It's apples and oranges... Why is skegpro like that? It was the only way they could get around the skeggard patent.<br /><br />Anybody really interested on how well skeggards work can easily find out by reading the feedback on eBay...<br /><br />Since $50 is less than the cost of manufacturing a skeggard I'd love to know your source... Must be a skegpro...