Help, I grounded my boat and a piece broke off my lower unit housing

[mbarth]

I was running through a narrow channel at low tide and my engine hit bottom hard. There was really no damage to the prop but the piece of the lower unit directly below the prop broke off. I lost maybe 2" off the botom and 1" off the traling edge. I don't notice any difference in the performance of the boat so I'm hoping this isn't real serious. I checked pricing on lower unit housings and they start at $4,000. so repairing this would seem almost pointless on a 10 year old engine. Anyone have any advice?

[RickyF]

You can purchase a replacement 'skeg" that slips over the existing one and screws to the remaining piece.

[tg2469]

the replacement stag runs about $50 to $ 75.. bets a new housing..

[sprat]

Happens all the time to guys running the flats boats like mine in Florida and hitting oyster bars. What RickyF said or have one welded on. Not a big thing and not very expensive.

[WildeOne]

The sole purpose of the skeg you broke off is to protect the prop. A welded one is way better than a SkegGuard and probably cheaper, if you can find a TIG welder who has done the repair before. BTW, if you get a welded repair, leave the gear oil in the gearcase ... it will help protect the seals from welding heat.

Jim

[mbarth]

Thanks for the info. I just checked pricing and a replacement skeg guard sure does beat the price of a new housing. It's amazing how you can run a channel 100 times and never hit bottom and just one time when you are approaching at a little bit of a different agle to give way to another boat.... wham!