Bent Skeg

Any recommendations on how to straighten a bent skeg

Ouch… no ideas other than heat, a 2x4 and a mini sledge.

Get ready to buy a new case. Pictures?

Key West 2300cc Mercury 225 optimax “Fish Tale”

How bent is it? We like pictures. Not likely without breaking it, or making it fatigued so that it will soon break. Usually better to cut them off clean and weld a new skeg on. Good aluminum welders can do this.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

GO to Skip’s III Propeller Service. He can work wonders! At a good Price.

http://www.prop-repair.com/Private%20Products/SkegRepair.htm

My skeg has had a slight bend in it for years. No worries, I just keep running. I figured as soon as I tried to bend it it would break. I’d rather have a slightly bent skeg than a broken one. Probably knocked 5 mph off my top end. :smiley: J/K, who knows.

“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson

Wilderness Ride 115

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Image is looking forward from the back of motor.

That could be straightened pretty easy. I have straightened quite a few over the years working at fab shops. My boss was a pretty wise old fella and he showed me the easiest way he knew how. Which may not be the best but it always worked for me. You will need access to an oxygen acetylene torch. First turn the torch on and light it with acetylene only. Wave it across the skeg and it will leave dark black soot. Then turn on the oxygen and acetylene together (mix). Heat it up until the black soot disappears it will only take a couple seconds. My boss said that was a fool proof way to make sure it doesn’t get to hot. After you heat tap on it easily with a rubber mallet until it straightens out. With it being bent in a curved I would start my way at the top heating in horizontal lines and work my way down letting it cool in between sections that I’m heating. It will straighten right out. Take your time and don’t get it to hot. Aluminum conducts heat very well and if you heat it to much the heat will transfer up the lower unit. Everyone always pulled right up to our shop and said can you straighten this? I’d stop what I was doing heat it tap it right out charge em a few bucks and they’d be on their way. Might be a shop close to you that will do the same. Anyone that has worked with metal a while will fix that right up.

07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150

Skips. Mike will hook it up.

Scout 185

Skip’s or leave it alone. I’d bet a nickle even with heat it’ll break.

I’ve heard the black soot thing, but unless you use a temp gun it is too easy to over heat aluminum with a torch unless you are very proficient with one. And remember as you heat the aluminum it has a tendency to transfer and do wonders on the output seal if some kind of heat sink (wet rag) is not used.

One other option try to straighten it yourself and if it does break and you have an inch or so left use a skeg guard. http://skeggard.com/ Had one on an old bass boat for a few years with no problems.

It’s what I do for a living. I’ve straightened a dozen and never broke one or got one hot enough to damage any seals…

07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150

3 recommendations for skips… I’d head that way and let them do what they do.

07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150

quote:
I'd bet a nickle even with heat it'll break.

I’d raise you a dime that Adam (xxmadfirexx) knows what he’s talking about and wouldn’t say it if he couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it myself, aluminum ain’t my thing, but if he says he can, he can and I’d trust him with mine. :wink:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

I appreciate all the great ■■■■■■■■. I will give skip a try.

quote:
Originally posted by choffer

I appreciate all the great ■■■■■■■■. I will give skip a try.


</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Think about your prop(s) too, while you are at it. If you are going to run the boat up that way, get his opinion on your existing prop(s) and ideas for a spare. Got him to do some prop work for me a few years back. I don’t regret it. There are several shops closer to my house but, I’m glad I too the ride out to Skips. Instead of having to leave the boat and spare prop for him to look at and get back to me, he took care of all my needs and questions while I was there. Amazing!

Not saying he will drop everything for you soon as you walk in the door but, the man sure impressed ME. Hope this helps.

quote:
[i] I'd raise you a dime that Adam (xxmadfirexx) knows what he's talking about and wouldn't say it if he couldn't do it. I couldn't do it myself, aluminum ain't my thing, but if he says he can, he can and I'd trust him with mine. :wink:

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose


I second what Larry said about Madfires method.

That’s what I would do if I had that issue on mine. The housing is much larger than the skeg and will dissipate the heat well. It is also filled with gear lube which will help as well IMO.

NN

07, 23 Key West, Twin 115 Yammys

“Coastal Bound”

www.joinrfa.org/

iFly - I actually bent the skeg while backing into my driveway. I had lowered the motor earlier and forgot to raise it. Stupid is as stupid does.

First of all don’t be mad at yourself. We all scratch up, and bend up our skegs. My advise is DO NOT try to bend it back yourself. take it to Oswald Propeller on James Island or Skips Propeller on Cross County Rd and leave it to the pros. I have seen a lot of half skeg engines. That is what happens when you do it yourself…it gets broken off entirely!!!

Dorado II
Carolina Skiff 25DLV

quote:
Originally posted by xxmadfirexx

It’s what I do for a living. I’ve straightened a dozen and never broke one or got one hot enough to damage any seals…

07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150


10-4 didn’t mean to offend! just saying I’ve seen a few people that “thought” they knew what they were doing with a torch. I’ve also seen a couple broken off from home repair. Much easier to have someone that specializes in it straighten rather than have to weld it back on.

You didn’t offend me Fred! You gotta have thick skin to hang around here! :smiley:

07 Scout Winyah Bay 221 Yamaha F150