Missing Skeg?

[Bass Addict]

I was running up river in a tournament and all of a sudden the back of my boat kicked to the right and the steering felt funny so I stopped and trimmed the engine up to inspect. Couldnt see any thing different, long story short. When I pulled my boat out I noticed my skeg was missing. Dont know what happened or what caused it. My question is can it be repaired and who can do it?</p>

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Thanks</p>

 

[Bubbakat]

You can buy a replacement skeg and any good aluminum welder can weld it on. I have seen several replaced in my life time.

 

[trashtrout]

You can have one welded on.....Make sure whever welds it pays close attention to the heat.I have welded a few on with no problems by using wire welder instead of TIG welder.....Just bevel and clean alum. good and skip weld and it should work fine.

 

[Bass Addict]

Thanks. Whare can I purchase a new skeg? Will it hurt to run it slow like it is for now?</p>

 

[BulletTJ]

If you run at high speeds I would look for a new gear case. You can have it welded but I wouldnt trust it high speeds.

 

[Bubbakat]

Check at any boat repair place or go on line and search skeg replacement. As for hurting it running it like it is, it won,t hurt a thing as for as operation go. Now if you hit another object its going to take out the whole lower then. The skeg is there to protect the gear housing. Now I have operated boat up to 85 mph with a welded skeg without fear. I may have been lucky, so to say, just my opinion..

 

[Paul Nichols]

The safest thing to do would be get another housing, trust me it isn't worth the risk with a welded on skeg.

Paul

 

[buzz]

I agree, find you another housing. Have you checked with wrenching? Surely there are some out there from blown engines, etc.

 

[Crizzel]

Do a insurance claim unless you dont have insurance

 

[wrechin2]

Listen to Paul!!!!!!!

That looks like a CLE case. They are getting hard to find. If you run any speed (above about 40 MPH) at all a welded skeg will get you HURT! The skeg keeps the engine from running sideway from the prop pulling (to a point) and if a welded skeg breaks, you will more than likely go for a swim from the twist it will do to the boat. It is not worth it! Find a case or new lower. Just my .02

 

[churly]

My partner and I ran for most of the year last year with the skeg looking just like that. That was in a 20xd with a 225 efi and it didn't change the ride that much. Once we got it fixed, it did run faster....

 

[Bassman1955]

Man, that is ugly!

 

[b.lee]

You'll want to replace that case. If you carry collision coverage on your boat insurance, it's a covered loss.

The trailing edge of that skeg is broken too close to the gear housing to repair. Heat in this machined area can and will cause fitment issues with the bearing carrier and can cause cracks, oil leaks, etc.

You do want to repair it though, the skeg is the only part of your lower unit that is keeping you tracking straight. You can see just how much is missing and imagine how secure you might feel without that control there. Sure it'll run fine, but not a fine as it should run. The green line is the water's surface (or maybe lower), The white line is the missing part of skeg, and the red circle is the area of concern with regard to the welding repair.