Yes, I have a buddy that put a skeg guard on and it changed the performance of his boat.

I would leave it also. I have a piece missing like that on my offshore boat and there has been no change in performance at all.

Arguments for and against skeg guards. Against: mentioned above and; drilling into the skeg and weakening it with the mounting bolts.

When you pick up your skeg guard stop by the auto parts store and get some stick on vents to put on the boat hull at the engine room.Get a car braw for the truck also and maybe some of those car lashes. http://www.carlashes.com/. That would be way cool at the boat launch. SERIOUSLY NO SKEG GUARD!

Not a fan of skeg guards. If it was mine I would have a piece welded in and then body work and paint it. But I'm anal about how my props and outdrives look. If nothing else do as Brian says (Sydwayz) and dress it so it doesn't look like Jaws took a bite out of it and paint it.

I spit my coffee all over my keyboard.

If it bothers you.. Just get it welded. I watched a guy run 88 mph in a little charger STV (18 foot speed boat) with NO skeg.

Tell them its a new race design being tested. If they have to ask they don't know, right? I sure the guys on OSO can come up with some good stories for it too. Not to worry it won't hurt anything.It is a conversation starter.

Cut an inch off the bottom with a jigsaw, file, done.

Merc dealer has a replacement skeg available. just cut off what you need and weld it on. For that repair you wouldn't even have to take the gearcase apart. YOU know it will bother you to see it broken.....Just do it.

Skeg guards make me as an outsider looking at your boat say "What else are you covering up and too lazy to fix?" Smooth it down, create an attractive design and paint it or be the envy of the party and get yourself another lower, easy enough.

Cut it, file it, call it good.