I hope I didn't need this?

[hostage]

I pulled my boat out of the water today and noticed the verticle fin below the lower unit is missing. I think I lost it when I was tired up on a popular sand bar and some yahoo went way over the speed limit and created a mammoth wave. I didn't notice anything other than I felt like I was over steering when I was at slow speeds. Any idea how much it costs to replace this, I am guessing I would have to get someone to weld on a new one or replace part of the lower unit. The prop was not damaged at all. Last any idea how much this would cost?

Enough meat on this to weld w/o damaging seals?

Thanks,

Hostage

 

[oops!]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

hi hostage....


i thenk you are talking about the skeg.

they break all the time.

a good alum welder can replace it......but make sure they have done it before with sucess.

costs about 50 bux.

the reason to check for a good welder is because there are seals in there that can burn during welding causing more damage.

the there way is to have the bottom end taken apart.....welded and then the gears replaced......call around for local prices....over 150 bux tho

 

[wan2live]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

I pulled my boat out of the water today and noticed the verticle fin below the lower unit is missing. I think I lost it when I was tired up on a popular sand bar and some yahoo went way over the speed limit and created a mammoth wave. I didn't notice anything other than I felt like I was over steering when I was at slow speeds. Any idea how much it costs to replace this, I am guessing I would have to get someone to weld on a new one or replace part of the lower unit. The prop was not damaged at all. Last any idea how much this would cost?

Thanks,

Hostage

That is your Skeg and it is a needed part and the lower unit is a single piece, it sounds like it was broke off when some yahoo went screaming by in a no wake area as you were beached. I saw that alot today on the lake while waiting for a battery to be brought to me.

I don't think that a weld job is going to do it for you but I may be wrong.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

Here on iboats they carry replacement skegs and skeg guards.....

Replacements need to be welded and if you have enough of the old one left you can bolt on a skeg guard.

Take a look here http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...675755--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0

 

[5150abf]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

unless you have a prop shop close I would go with the one on iboats.

I have welded for 23 years and consider myself to be very good at it and I have trouble with props and welding on my lower, there is a trick but I haven't found it yet.

Once it is screwed up you can unscrew it so eihter leave it alone or go with the iboats part, I have run with the smallest nub of a skeg and not noticed any real difference so you are fine if you don't do anyhting as long as you aren't getting water into your lower.

 

[hostage]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

I do have a boat mechanic that tells me never to buy anything since he always has something laying around, I'll get him to look at it.

There is about a 1/2 inch of skag left.

So from what I hearing it is something that is cheap and normally replaced, but not dangerous to put a stop to my July 4th vacation boating?

Thanks again,

Hostage

 

[45Auto]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

Only thing it's there for is to protect your prop and drive shaft. It won't affect steering or stability, the rest of the lower unit in the water has plenty of surface area for that.

Without the skeg, the prop will hit anything first and usually bend the shaft after bending the prop. No reason to stop your vacation, just be careful and don't hit anything.

It's pretty easy to weld a new one on, the replacement skeg from Mercruier is about $70 and it'll take a decent welder several hours to replace it. Usual total cost around here is about $400 and it'll look brand new.

The thread below shows how I broke mine and re-welded it a couple of years ago:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=282896&highlight=welded+skeg

 

[seabob4]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

Hostage,
Are you sure you didn't hit something? It takes quite a bit of force to break off a skeg...

 

[hostage]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

I am finally getting around to this, since the season is nearly over and I don't mind my boat being out of commission for a while. I contacted a marina and they referred me to a welder who has done a few of them. I spoke to the welder and he mentioned that I might have to get some seals replaced. I wonder if I could fabricate a cooling system like 45Auto did w/ wood. I will try to get a picture up of what is left of the skeg.

 

[Brandonman]

Re: I hope I didn't need this?

I always trailer up my outdrive when docking at the beach. I had a buddy who had his skeg in the sand unknowingly all day and finally it broke off from rocking back and forth. We were wondering the whole day as to why my boat was rocking back and forth and I constantly had to adjust the two ropes tied from the rear of the boat to the beach while his boat didn't move at all with no ropes. Windy and wavy condition that day.