[backwater bill]

Brother when you drill holes in your lower unit not only void the warranty but weaken the skeg.

[MariahMan]

Backwater Bill, thanks for posting your experience with this product. That's interesting to hear. It does sound like the product has made a difference for you and improved the handling of your boat. WetWilly, did you ever get some more info on the product?

[WetWilly]

Hi MariahMan,

OK, so far, this is what I've come up with about the BlackFin skeg:

The Good:

1) The BlackFin appears to be pretty darn strong, as the original video and the creators claimed. With the exception of member backwater bill, I haven't really found anyone else saying that they broke one although the bottom of the BlackFin is designed as a sacrificial node.

2) Several other Alpha I/O owners have indicated that they experience better control especially at low speeds like member backwater bill stated, but I have also read reviews about a couple of boats now getting a bit squrrely near WOT with the BlackFin as well.

3) Babe Winkelman — An icon in the fishing and hunting industry and host of "Good Fishing" and "Outdoor Secrets," now endorses The Blackfin skeg.

4) Zero galvanic corrosion caused with this product unlike SS Skeg guards.

5) Cheaper than SS Skeg guards or a new skeg.

The Bad:

1) It appears that some BlackFins are still falling off. Some owners notice either after a strike or when they pull their boat from the water, the BlackFin is gone. It's interesting to note that most of these same people claim to have followed the installation instruction to the letter.

2) I found a couple of owners stating that they're experiencing handling issues near WOT with the BlackFin, either the boat now gets squirrelly or "chine walking gets very wicked".

3) If it should come off, you may be stuck with an adhesive mess that may be difficult to remove. (It would have been interesting to know if the adhesive stayed on the skeg or the BlackFin when it fell off)

Conclusion:

The BlaskFin appears to be a strong product and most of the reviews for the Blackfin seem very positive. Several reviews have indicated that the Blackfin seems to favor Alpha IO's with better handelling at lower speeds. There is still the issue of the Fins falling off but BlackFin's warranty seems to indicate that they will replace it within the first two years if that happens (click here).

In the event I should damage my skeg and require another fix, I will try the BlackFin myself to see how well it works on a Bravo outdrive.

WetWilly

P.S. backwater bill, I assume that you have or will be replacing your BlackFin, if you don't mind, I would like to know how difficult or messy it gets in removing the old BlackFin and adhesive in preparation for the new one.

[backwater bill]

Hokey is probably so the average Joe can understand. As for prop protection, the Blackfin it slightly taller than the original skeg by about 1' inch. That is 1 very crucial inch when it come to running over obstruction. Why else would so many rental boat companies use them. Because they save them money.

[backwater bill]

Stainless steel vs cast aluminum. Who is going to survive that battle when you hit something???? Stainless absorbs NOTHING it just transfers the shock to the aluminum and breaks it off clean with the 2 holes you drilled in the skeg you are trying to protect. FYI drilling holes in your skeg voids any warranty you have.

[backwater bill]

Follow instructions and there will be no problems.

[garyg]

Hi here's my 2 cents worth I have a 2000 Z Shaba open bow 7.4 MPI BRAVO 111. I just put a new Skeggard on my Z 272 and has already saved my props. I would check with Skeggard about there thoughts on the galvanic corrosion. They have always been very helpful to me. I have enclosed a picture of my skeggard Gary G

[backwater bill]

Sweet boat but realize that the toughest metal on the unit is the prop and gard. If you hit hard the gard will not budge and the aluminum lower unit will have to. The Blachfin is designed to absorb the impact before it reaches the unit and/or be sacrificed to minimize damage.

[indykoch]

Originally Posted by backwater bill

Sweet boat but realize that the toughest metal on the unit is the prop and gard. If you hit hard the gard will not budge and the aluminum lower unit will have to. The Blachfin is designed to absorb the impact before it reaches the unit and/or be sacrificed to minimize damage.

Actually, I've always heard MerCruiser (and I assume Volvo for that matter) have a "built in" insurance for this - the hydraulic trim cylinders are supposed to give way for submerged objects to save the outdrive (allows it to flip up). If this is true, I think the release of the lower unit would happen before actually breaking the metal. Devil's advocate - I've also seen a LOT of damaged lower units, so who knows if this system actually works or not.

[baker721]

Originally Posted by WetWilly

Hello bblauvelt,

Question 1: Should I bother with Skeg Guard or will it increase the galvanic corrosion?

Since it is a different metal than the outdrive, yes, but the real question is how much and that is difficult to tell. Now do you need it, No, not really unless you are prone to damaging the skeg because of the area where you boat or the occasional moment of memory loss when hauling your boat onto a trailer.

WetWilly

I did that the other day