Bent Skeg

[shorefisher]

My skeg is bent on my motor. My question is can you just bend them back and if so how? Or is this something I should have someone who knows what they are doing do this for me? Thanks.

[Uncle Grump]

Shorefisher

I would leave it alone - there is a very good chance that the skeg on your motor is "cast" - most likely out of aluminum.

Cast materials will sometimes bend once, but rarely a second time. If you want it straight, odds are you will need to take your motor to a prop shop to have it done.

UG

[united jigsticker]

Yep.

If it is Cast, then it will break if you attempt to move it again.

Skeg repair can be costly.

Are you experiencing a pulling problem? If so, you can counter it by adjusting the trim tab.

If not, then I'd leave it be...Unless you're gonna have it professionally repaired.

[BIG DS]

To repair it, the lower unit would need to be removed, the gear box disassembled, and the skeg would be cut off and a new one welded on. About $150 for the welding plus labor for R&R on the lower unit with new gaskets and a new waterpump impeller as long as you are right there. If it is not pulling leave it. If it is it will need to be fixed anyway so try two blocks of wood, one clamped on each side and hit it with a dead blow hammer and keep tightening the clamps. If it is not bent too bad it should straighten out. If it starts to crack, stop. Good luck.

[jigginjerk]

How much is it bent? If it is only a little, it can be bent back. If it is, respond and I will tell you how.

[shorefisher]

Thanks for the info. so far. It is bent what I would say is a little but it pulls the boat to the left. It is more of a bend from front to back of the skeg not from bottom to top. I do think it is cast from looking a the small chip taken out of it. I can live with it the way it is but it would be nice to get some of the pull out. But due to not having the money for a larger repair at this time maybe a bent skeg is better then no skeg . But if you have any good ideas it would be nice to know what I could try for after the boating season or when I have the cash to have it done if I bust it off Thanks again.

Also I do not know if is makes a dif. but it is a 75h.p. Mariner.

[BIG DS]

It is cast aluminum. Don't try bending it back if it bent front to rear. The method I mentioned before works ok from top to bottom, but not the other way. You will need to get it replaced. If adjusting the trim tab keeps it from pulling, (it more than likely won,t since they are designed to only to correct prop steer) you can have it fixed over the winter. It will take several weeks to a month at the least.