skeg damage

dieselsmoke

Member
Aug 21, 2016
95
nj
Boat Info
2004 Select 220
Engines
5.0mpi bravo
IMG_2690.jpg
What should I do about this missing section of skeg. I must have picked up a stone or something and jammed it between the prop and skeg. The prop has a very minor damage that can be easily repaired. The skeg could be repaired but should I worry about it? It did its job and protected the prop but now whats the best course of action
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2694.jpg
    IMG_2694.jpg
    220.4 KB · Views: 96
I got a stainless skeg protector from Cabellas for fishing outboards and that fixed it right up. But you have a lot of skeg left. Wait and see if there is a problem that you didn't have before.
 
I would not worry about fixing.

But since your boat is on a trailer you could get a weld on repair piece and take it to a welder to fix you up.
 
I wouldn't worry about it. Just file the edges smooth. You won't notice any performance issues.

Skeg guards are an option, but I would strongly caution against using those. If you hit something, you run the risk of breaking the skeg close to the gear housing - which means you can no longer weld a new skeg on there. They sound good in theory, but in reality they are not.
 
I concur with Lazy-Daze. I did exactly that with my 05 260 skeg. It looked like yours so I installed a stainless guard. Looked awesome. Coming onto my trailer I got into some rocks that damaged the forward prop a bit and snapped the skeg Right off.
 

Attachments

  • 6A439343-C5A6-404D-B645-A62A0E0B85D3.jpeg
    6A439343-C5A6-404D-B645-A62A0E0B85D3.jpeg
    141.4 KB · Views: 155
The stainless skeg protector will straighten a bent up skeg as you hammer it into position with a block of wood and a 10# maul and secure it with the 2 machine screws provided. It looks very good on the trailer and didn't cost much. Probably should not do this if you are inclined to roll large rocks up hills repeatedly. I am hesitant about welding on a primary aluminum casting locating precision bearings and see it as a last resort. Also, I can't heli-arc myself and really don't trust boat mechanic/pirates.
 
Last edited:
View attachment 89635 What should I do about this missing section of skeg. I must have picked up a stone or something and jammed it between the prop and skeg. The prop has a very minor damage that can be easily repaired. The skeg could be repaired but should I worry about it? It did its job and protected the prop but now whats the best course of action
It won't effect anything i would just leave it alone, I know it hurts to look at! But not worth the fix
 
Once I had a bad experience adding heat to a piece of aluminum the size of a pound of butter. The stuff is so conductive but has such a low melting point, welding could go wrong. I was making a precision 747 part in my milling machine when I got fussy and forgot to make big chips to carry the heat away. The stock and my careful work collapsed like a puddle of butter when the accumulated heat abruptly destroyed structural integrity throughout.
 
The stainless skeg protector will straighten a bent up skeg as you hammer it into position with a block of wood and a 10# maul and secure it with the 2 machine screws provided. It looks very good on the trailer and didn't cost much. Probably should not do this if you are inclined to roll large rocks up hills repeatedly. I am hesitant about welding on a primary aluminum casting locating precision bearings and see it as a last resort. Also, I can't heli-arc myself and really don't trust boat mechanic/pirates.
Done by an experienced welder, a skeg repair is, hands down, 100% preferred over the skeg guard. Many, many skegs get welded/repaired every year and there are shops that specialize in this. It's normal practice.

That skeg guard should be outlawed.
 
I would not want to add anymore stainless to the sterndrive - especially if you keep it in a saltwater wet slip. I would sand that housing and get a good coat of Trilux on it like @Ididntdoit mentioned. The exposed aluminum will be subject to corrosion that would do far more damage than the skeg.

-Kevin
 
Fix it by welding aluminum... make it look new and you will never hit anything again
Always think resale.... I would never buy a boat with a broken skeg or a stainless coverup
 
OK thanks for the advice. Im gonna clean it, paint it, run it for the summer, then look maybe to have it welded in the off season. Thanks again
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,946
Messages
1,422,791
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top