Skeg grinding...

[dsanders]

Well, the inevitable finally happened. After a long day on the water I hauled out the boat and took it to the house. I hooked it up to the hose to flush the engine washed it down and then towed it to the lot where I store it two blocks away. When I got to the lot my worst fears were confirmed. The slight hesitation I felt pulling into the lot was actually the skeg plowing through the dirt of the lot. Another look back down the street showed a couple of scratches in the asphault where the skeg had kissed the ground as the truck bounced down the street. Aparently in all my haste to get the boat cleaned up and put away I never raised the motor and locked it in place. Since the windows were rolled up with the AC on I never heard it either. Hopefully this will be my last time of leaving the motor down.

The damage does not look too horrible but there is definately a good amount of material that was removed when the skeg touched down (about 1/4" or so). I could not see any cracks in the transom or bottom of the boat at all. Does anyone have any advice on what type of problems to expect after this type of damage? I have seen some skeg rapair kits on Overton's and other places but I'm not sure if this is needed. The motor is a 125hp outboard Merc.

[Chris Surowiec]

I have a Johnson 200 ocean pro that I'm ashamed to admit I pulled out of the ramp at Havre de Grace without tilting it up. I broke a small piece off the end of the skeg about 1" high. I haven't noticed any performance changes so I left it alone. It's ugly but the boat runs the same.

[arlington]

that's one we all get to do once. i did quite the same to a 150 evinrude. file down the burr and bottom of the skeg, a little touch-up paint wouldn't hurt. should not affect performance at all.

b

[WildeOne]

The skeg's only function is to protect the prop. Not to worry.
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Jim
23' Grady White Gulfstream "Get Reel"
Ocean Pines, MD