Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Any thoughts on this.
My skegs were chewed up by the previous owner and the next item on the list is to get them fixed. My mechanic who has been very good to me recommends against replacing the entire skeg due to strength issues. However, I'm not sure these can be repaired to new condition.
Another shop swears 20 years of replacing 1,000's of skegs with no failures. A complete replacement would look much better but I can't risk failure at speed.

PS. Boat is a 31 Formula with stock 502's....

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Replace the minimum amount for the strongest repair. I bought 2 skegs from BAM and cut out the sections I needed to restore mine back to original shape. Mine had the normal do it yourself file the edge smooth when I bought the boat. 2 yrs later and still perfect.
You can see the leading edge that I replaced on one, and the lower 1/2 on the second, only because I tried to take a little bend out of the 2nd only to have the corner break off. I thought it was best to replace with 1 section vs 2 sections. You don't have to gut and strip as I did, I just go all out whenever I do stuff. I can not find the repair now even though I did it.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

I had mine filled and reshaped by a local welder familiar with the job. About an inch of the rear edge of one was missing (when we got the boat), and some misc. nicks and chips on both drives. Cost $100 per drive. He did a great job.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Mine got broke in shipping but need it repaired on the very back of the skeg about 1.5"triangle piece.Might just put nose cones on it too.Russ just take it in and get it fixed and next time your up my way call me but i'm not holding your phone . :D

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

I agree wit US1 I have repaired many skegs with out aproblem if you get it done just use someone who does them reguarly I use millers island propeller up here for replacement if they just need cleaned up I do it my self either way ussually you cant tell anything was done

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

The leading edge of the skegs look like a serated edge of a knife and have around 3/4 of an inch of material missing along the bottom edge. The sides of the skegs are pitted quite a bit and would require alot of "filler". The strange thing is that the rest of the drives look perfect.

GoodT, are you saying you have had skegs replaced without problems?

Docman....I don't have your number. It's 1-900-NEE-DOIL isn't it? :drink: :D

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Well My biggest Bonehead move with this boat was pulling out of my driveway with the drive down . Snapped mine clean off. Took the broken piece and the drive to a local Fabrication guy I know. His work is top notch. Re repaired the skeg to a point that no filler was need to make it look factory. It has been on there two years working on a third.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Russ,
Ping James. He had to have some work done on his, and he is all good at approaching 90mph speeds.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

James hasn't hit 90 yet!!! :D (89.XX though)
Thanks, I already talked to him and we use the same mechanic.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

No Problem. If you can't find a really good shop. Send em to me and I'll get em done. I deal with an awesome shop that's welded over a dozen just for me. They charge me $75 for a skeg that's broken off clean ! BBB

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

I've had my lower portion of the skeg broken. Cut a piece of Aluminum sheet to the same design as the original had it professionally weld can't even tell it was broken. It's very import to take it a professionally welder or fabricator.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

$75.00...? That seems cheap! Are they replacing these with new skegs? Are they skegs, or cut aluminum in the shape of a factory skeg. (doesn't really matter, just curious) I was given a much higher price but that included painting these back to a factory finish.
I'll try to get a pic to post, mine do look pretty bad.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

What would happen if one broke off at speed??

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

[



Docman....I don't have your number. It's 1-900-NEE-DOIL isn't it? :drink: :D[/QUOTE]


Funny Russ real funny.Just get itn off of your wifes cell phone.it's speed dial #2 since your #1.540-400-5536 :D

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

This was discussed a while back. The general consensus was that for a bravo,it would be ok but for a ''surfacing'' drive such as the speedmaster series, replacement of the lower housing would be the safest route. The reason is that even with the best weld possible, there will be a stress riser between the solid weld deposit and the porous casting of the drive housing. This, coupled with the fact that directional stability and control is dependent upon these highly stressed components,is an invitation to disaster. I have repaired quite a number of skegs myself but never on a drive that was being used in a surfacing application.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Ok, I've taken a pic of each.....most of the spots your see are pits in the metal, the others are just from being dirty. The pitting only appears on the skeg, the rest of the drives look new.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

I wouldn't cut off all of yours just to weld on a new one. The weld will be a weak point. Mine was not a bad as yours, but same wear signs. The skegs I bought from BAM are really just skegs that are cut off of damage drives. I think they were $25 each. Click on the 1st pic of my reply. That one was basically just like yours, leading edge ate up, worn down. The weld is the off color straight line.
The paint is pretty thick. Alot of those chips may not be as bad as you thick if you were to sand it down to the bare AL. I used the grey Marine Tex to fill a couple of the pin holes.
By replacing just the bad areas and not the whole skeg, you don't have to worry about distorting the torpedo. Yours aren't bad enough to take that chance in my opinion.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

They start out with a thicker piece of marine grade aluninum, and grind it to the taper after welding. This way, there is no evidence(undercutting from the weld) left over.
I end up doing a little finishing work. and repaint.
This shop does alot of work for me. I have all kinds of welding equiptment, but it pays for me to go to this shop, and drop off a few uppers, or lowers that need a weld job, while I'm running around to the machine shop, putting motors, drives, transom assy's together, or buying and selling on e-bay. All this plus , my Dj business, and my Job as a FDNY Fireman. And I still make time to party !

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Your steering wouldn't be as crisp, but in my experience, I feel that the boat actually went slower with more cavitation after I snapped one off clean on a sandbar, even worse than being stuck on the sandbar, it didn't serve drinks ! :drink: I dont think it would be a dangerous safety issue. BBB

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

I've been doing intense studying and experimenting on refinishing these drives. The worst issue is the corrosion.

Usually any time there is pitting, it was caused by corrosion, and there is corrosion deep in the metal. A stainless wire brush may remove some small pitting. I recommend glass beading. Even with a hand held small hopper gun, for small spots. The problem with corrosion is
there is usually moisture and possibly sodium trapped in the corrosion. If not eradicated, any repair over it will eventually pop. The corrosive activity makes gasses that also crack the paint/ repair. Also any aluminum that looks grey or black is impregnated with corrosion and should be dealt with. There is a new product called aluminate that eats aluminum corrosion, but I have not used it yet. Preparation is very important. I am experimenting with POR 15 enamel. It takes several days to dry, can be put on with a brush, and must be top coated to resist uv sunlight. They claim that the chemical that is used in paint to resist uv breakdown actually weakens the paint and how it dries. I have been using JB Industro weld, after cleaning up and sometimes welding and regrinding pitting. If your boat comes out often, and you clean and stay on top of the drives, you could probably get away with a wire brush, some thinner, sand paper, spray cans of both zinc chromate primer and black paint. BBB

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

t500hps,

If you are still in need of repair, we do repair them here. We fix leading edge damage as needed or replace the entire skeg when it makes more sense. We replace the skeg with Mercury factory replacements.

Granted, shipping the units would also come into play. I thought I would give you another option. More than likely you can find some shop locally who can perform the quality work it requires. Call the shops around your area and ask them questions.

If you have any questions, please call us.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Did you get the video? :cool:

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Yes, Thanks.
PM to you.

Re: Repairing/Replacing skegs on Bravos???
 

Maybe yours was diferent. You have twins and more power, I had a single BBC Bravo. It felt like more cavitation and less speed for me. BBB :drink: