Bent skeg ????

[DDbasser]

I did a search on this sight and I could'nt find anything on this subject.

So here's my question.

I bent the skeg on my outboard, I lowered my motor too far when I was taking it off the trailer,

and bent the skeg on the ramp.  :-[

Question: what is the safest way to straighten the skeg, I'm afraid of breaking it so I have'nt touched it yet.

The only problem it caused is that now my boat pulls to the left just a little but I'd still like to fix it.

Thanks for any and all input!!

[Ben]

Depends on how much it's bent.  I've bent and straightend more than one and have always used a big soft face mallet to straighten them.  That's only when they have 1/4" - 3/8" offset.

Now if you're talking a serious amount of offset, I would have someone with experience advise you.

[Sam]

DD, you may want to take it to the dealer to make sure that is the only damage to the hull and motor mount.

A detailed look-see by a qualified mechanic is well worth the money.

[gamblerOH]

A friend of mine was telling me about a company who makes a replacement skeg. He said that you take the lower unit to an aluminum welding shop where they cut yours off in a zig zag pattern and then match the grooves up to the replacement, from what I understand it makes a very stong repair. I would think its costly so if yours is not too bad I would try what Ben has suggested first. If I can find the name of the company i'll send you a link.

[DDbasser]

Ben,

Do you use something behind the skeg when you hit it with the hamer? my skeg is bent about a 1/2"

Sam,

Theres not any cracks around the mount and I didn't hit it hard, I ran it for  the rest of the day and I kept checking it throughout the day

Gambler,

I've heard about those. Never have known anyone who used one though.

I've got a buddy that is a welder and is awsome on aluminum, he's welded several aluminum boats.

He did another buddy of mine's boat, had to completely reweld the transom

 

Thanks for all the replies and keep them coming,

I may try to bend it back in shape tomorrow, after I

call a couple dealers to see what they have to say.

DDbasser

[Ben]

I would recommend taking it off. You will have to hit it fairly firm licks to straighten it If you have some way of supporting it just above the gearcase where the water inlets are, you could do it one the boat but you need to use something like a 2x4 turned flat ways against that area. I have made a T-shaped brace like this, backed the motor close to a solid object and braced it.

As for replacing the skeeg, if this is on a fairly fast boat, would strongly recommend against that. I've seen too many perfectly good skeegs broken off on boats that run in the 80's and it can give you a fairly wild ride when it does. Most of these have been skeegs that had the torque tab welded on.

If any heat is applied, it really needs to be take apart and the whole thing heat treated. It's better to use no heat than heat in a localized area.

[DDbasser]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'm going to err on the side of caution and take it to a mechanic.

The boats not super fast, it tops out at 65mph.

I'd hate to have something happen as I was running down the lake.

I use to go to the drag boat races and I've seen some pretty wild things happen when they have problems on the water.

Daren