Broken skeg

[MapisM]

I am considering the purchase of a 20' Sea Ray with a 6V Mercruiser & Alpha one, which skeg is almost non-existing (the previous owner just cut away the broken part of the skeg after hitting a rock, now it is about 30% of the original surface and length...).
I would appreciate any suggestion with regard to:
- possible problems leaving the skeg as it is: would that just reduce the propeller protection, or would it affect handling/performance?
- best way to repair it.
- last but not least, what should be checked in the drive to be sure that the skeg was the only victim of the crash?... Besides the propeller of course, which had to be changed.
Thanks in advance to anyone who might help.

 

[jfm]

Re: steeldevelopments.co.uk

A new skeg will cost loads, plus labour for removing and refitting / reshimming the gear assembly. If you remove the whole gearbox bit, take it to Steel developments (merton road, SW London). They can weld on/grind a new skeg that will look 100% perfickly new. They can immerse the gearbox so stays cool while welding, so no need to take it to bits. Their work is superb, I have had skegs fixed by them like this before

 

[hlb]

no way of knowing what other damage, without exraying the shafts and gears. Most problably damaged.

Haydn

 

[Guest]

Contact Dave Crawford Marine he has loads of Mercruiser bits he may have a secondhand casing. tel 01590 671251
Paul js.

 

[Guest]

Re: steeldevelopments.co.uk

Contact Dave Crawford at Lymington he may have a secondhand one 01590 671251.

 

[jfm]

Re: steeldevelopments rule ok

No Paul, that's the hard way imho. Even if Dave Crawford in Lym has one you then have to rebuild it and reshim it, there's a lot of bits in those gearboxes, and you need specialist tools for it including the locking ring undo-er to remove the threaded ring that gets you into the gearbox. It's much easier and cheaper to leave the gears assembled and get a perfick new skeg welded on, only about 50 quid (why do pound signs come out as £ ?).

It's very unlikely there's any other damage, if the gears are working ok with no funny noises. The skegs bust off long before the gears break

 

[ccscott49]

Re: steeldevelopments rule ok

I agree with you, the amount of work to reshim those bottom ends is huige and expensive, if theres no nasty noises coming from it then leave it alone and weld on a new skeg.

 

[MapisM]

Re: steeldevelopments rule ok

Many thanks to everybody for the valuable hints.
Guess I will look for somebody capable of welding a new fin, because the gear seems running OK, also at 4500 RPM.
Unfortunately, it would not be easy for me to bring the boat to that place in London: ...forgot to mention that I am writing from Italy !
You folks have a great forum here, would like to have something like it also in Italy...
Thanks again, Mario.

 

[hlb]

Re: steeldevelopments rule ok

You'll find some one in most towns to do the welding. Just need a special alloy weldy man. Ask around at engineering shops, they will put you on to some one.

Haydn