Broke skeg & prop
 

I was boating on the Intercoastal Waterway today, when I struck something. It broke all three blades off the prop & the skeg off the foot of the stern drive. A friend came to me & we put on another prop. The questions is, I had a 21 pitch prop & the one we put on was a 22 pitch prop. The boat had trouble getting out of the water & once it planed out, it turning turning more rpm's then before. Is there that much difference between the two props or did I possible damage something else?

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

Ouch! Its quite possible you did some other damage with that impact. Hopefully the hub did its thing and separated though before any internal damage occurred. You might want to get the outdrive pressure tested though just to be sure you didn't damage any seals. Was there any vibration with the new prop? Your rpms should have dropped with the increase in pitch, not risen but that may be due to the significantly different rake in the two props. What was the holeshot/planing like prior to the damage? If it wasn't as good as you would like i would suggest dropping to a 20" - 4 blade or a 19" - 3 blade.

You can check out WetWilly's tutorial on skeg repair & refinishing here if you are thinking about doing the repairs yourself.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

When we did something like that last season, our insurance company insisted we immediately take the boat in to a qualified, certified Mercury service center and have her checked out. They said they'd pay for the cost of that. Good thing they did. Tho it turned out there was no damage to the outdrive, the bottom of the boat, near the stern, had two long gashes in it that were so deep they required glass work.

We only knocked our stainless High-5 out of whack, which a prop repair place fixed, spun the hub and knocked off only about 1/3 to 1/2 the skeg.

Total cost of the mechanical work, fiberglass repair and skeg replacement was about about $1500. Prop reconditioning was another $200 or so. $45 for the hub kit.

The reason the insurance company insisted on the immediate check-out was that the claims adjuster had had another boat, the previous season, have much the same thing happen. The owner was a commercial operator who didn't want to miss any of the season, so he and the insurance company agreed they'd address the damage later. Well, there was lower unit damage, and, by failing to address it in a timely fashion, that led to further damage, doubling or tripling the cost of the repairs.

Do you have any idea what you hit?

Jim

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

rishelly Sorry to here about you prop and skeg. I put just a skeggard on my outdrive.I took some pictures of it. Check out the Prop I would check with my insurance company about the damage?? I wiped out a lower unit years ago and they paid to have it repaired. Good Luck Gary G

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

I just purchased my boat, however the Previous Owner had to have the complete lower unit replaced. He told me that the insurance company covered it 100%, but that the bill totaled over $4000.00? No damage to the hull.. I guess he hit a large rock at a high rate of speed. They bought the boat new in 02 and had boated in the same area every season, and had no clue that a large cluster of rocks existed where the accident happened. The area on the river is now marked with buoys.

Hopefully all is well.. that had to be scary.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

Last Sunday I smacked a rock in an area of a lake I didn't know was shallow and rocky. I was not going fast however I broke the skeg and had the skekgard holding on with one bolt and bent 45 degress to the left. I looks almost like the first photo in this thread (once skeg off).

I dropped the boat off Wednesday and picked it up Friday night after having the skeg repaired and the prop reconditioned. I am pleased with the results. Like new now. The sad news is I had to cancel my swimplatform install since I spent some cash on this repair.

I also had the bolt holes for the hydrofoil filled in at the same time. I put smarttabs on tonight. :yes_grin:

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

Thanks guys, I feel better knowing that it can be repaired without having to replace the lower unit. MikeyT, I was planning on going to a 4 blade 19 pitch prop, but your suggestion of a 20 pitch make good sense.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

Gary,
I was looking at the skeggard but I'm not sure if there is enough skeg left for it to secure properly.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

rjshelley

I spent about $465 for all the fix.

1. full skeg repair - part and weld service $200
2. prop redo since it was chewed up a little.
3. 1.5 hours labor to drop lower unit for repair, lube, and shop supplies.

I got my boat back without even being able to tell it was welded. All painted and like new. The Prop looks really good and polished up. Blades like new.

I will probably put a skeggard on it down the road if I have damage to the skeg. For now, I am leaving it 'naked'.

Happy overall and hoping I don't have to repair or chunk the new skeg anytime soon.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

Rjshelley I called the Skeggard factory and talked to a very helpful person and I got a new Skeggard with a blemish on it,very small and hard to see for $ 75 plus shipping. I had a skeggard on my old boat and it saved my prop more than once if I didn't have the the lower unit high enough when I pulled the boat of the water. Gary G:wink_thumbup::):):)

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

i dunno....installing a skeg guard doesn't help prevent prop damage any more than a proper skeg would. And if i was going to buy a boat that had one installed, i would be feeling the owner was trying to cover something up. I would be wanting proof as to exactly how much damage was done and if it was repaired properly. IMHO I think a proper repair job is the correct way to go.

Getting back to the original post, i think i would take it in to my boat mechanic & have him check it over for damages before i went and called the insurance company. The amount quoted by simpleaz is quite reasonable for a full repair job & not worth claiming on your insurance policy although in your case i dont think the prop is worth repairing. If the mechanic believes there is more serious damage then i would consider making an insurance claim depending on the repair costs. Once the claim is reported its on your record whether there is a pay out or not.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

Hi mikeyt

If just a skeg repair about 180 to 200 for the physical stuff plus the labor for lower unit removal and reinstall. I expected to have some appearance of welding and repair but the prop shop I took it to did a great job. Looking at it would make you think the lower unit was replaced. I agree rjshelley's prop is a goner so replacement best. I am going to put on a 4 blade 20 and keep my reconditioned one as a backup.

I won't even consider a skegard until something happens. I did like the one I had since I beach the boat a lot in AZ and it made me feel better anchoring. For now, just the original hardware and hopefully no chunks down the road.

My deductible is $500 and everything checked out ok so no claim for me. I will save that for a bigger need.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

A skeggard is than lower and saves a good skeg from being ground down from draging the concrete. I was going with my personal experiance as a skeggard has saved me more than once Gary G:wink_thumbup:

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

yes yes garyg. I liked the one I had and I put it on due to a 2 inch chip off the bow side. It also saved a couple drags on the ramp.

I will think it over. Just hard to drill two holes in my repaired skeg. :rolleyes:

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

I put my new Skeggard on perfecty good skeg. I didn't want to cry if i messed up two props on my Bravo 111 drive. Gary G :(:(:wink_thumbup::wink_thumbup:

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

That must depend on the insurance company. As I noted earlier: Our insurance company demanded we get our boat properly evaluated following our mishap. When I expressed concern that, if the damages fell on or under our deductible, and we'd be as well-off paying it out-of-pocket, it'd still be on our "record," the adjuster said we didn't need to worry. If we decided to retract the claim, there'd be no record made of it.

Did I ever mention we really, really like our insurance company? :)

Jim

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

I would too if they were all like that but its pretty much standard practice with all insurers to keep a record of the claim whether withdrawn or not for legal liability reasons. If withdrawn then it will have no effect on your future premiums but there is always a record of the claim being reported just in case something happens at a later date. Once reported then your adjuster did exactly what he is supposed to do: strongly recommend that you take it to a reputable boat mechanic for a full examination. It's what i do for a living too...that's why i suggested rjshelley take his to be checked out first & then decide if he wants to involve his insurer.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

I got a guy that's going to check it this week for any internal damage. I really don't think he will find any. My main concern is how the boat ran with the Laser II 22 pitch prop, almost as if it was under strain while out of the hole & the engine was turning more RPMs than usual. I don't know enough about the sterndrive to know if internal damage would effect the boat performance that way.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

The Laser II has been around for a long time and is noted as a 'top speed' style prop. I believe it is a smaller diameter and also has the exhaust cut-outs which allow it to spin a little faster so that may explain why you laboured coming out of the hole & your rpms were higher.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

Great news; I took the boat to a Marine Repair & Machine Shop today & the guy orderd the replacement skeg & will weld it on for $100.00. He had one there that he had done today & if it had been painted already, you couldn't have seen the weld on it. For that price, he dosen't paint it, but I think I can handle doing that. He also checked the prop shaft & said it wasn't bent bad enough to replace it. Now get me a prop & I'll be back on the water by the weekend. Any suggestions for the on-line ordering a prop?

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

See my earlier suggestions at the end of this post.

Re: Broke skeg & prop
 

New skeggard.I put a new skeggard on my Shabah Z 272 Bravo 111 before going on vacation at Kentucky Lake for the week. When pulling the boat out the water,I thought had rasied the out drive up enough but hadn't and scraped the skeggard bottom nad not my props.That why I put the skeggard on.Also while at the Lake I saw two other MARIAH'S. Have a picture of one at the dock. Both Mariah'S where in GREAT SHAPE. Gary G:wink_thumbup::wink_thumbup::) Here is a picture of my new skeggard :wink_thumbup: