What does a skeg do on a boat motor?

Asked by: Jennifer Ball

The skeg of your outboard or stern drive motor serves two highly important functions. The skeg acts as a precise rudder, allowing the motor to turn your boat accurately and safely. This function is especially needed by high performance boats such as bass boats where on plane the skeg plays a critical role in steering.

Does a broken skeg affect performance?

Chips or even chunks out of the skeg guard won’t really affect your performance. It really functions to protect your prop and drive from damage by absorbing the impact.

Can a broken skeg be repaired?

The skeg of an outboard or sterndrive gear case provides much directional stability and steering ease. Whether caused by running aground or due to some land-bound calamity, a broken or damaged skeg adversely affects handling. In some cases, a welder can repair your skeg.

What is the skeg on a boat engine?

A skeg (or skegg or skag) is a sternward extension of the keel of boats and ships which have a rudder mounted on the centre line. The term also applies to the lowest point on an outboard motor or the outdrive of an inboard/outboard.

What is the fin on the bottom of a boat motor for?

The skeg is the lowest point on an outboard motor (pictured above). It acts as a precise rudder, which allows your boat to turn safely and effectively. It also protects the propeller from getting caught in debris in the water or other hazards the boat may come in contact with.

How do you fix a broken skeg on an outboard motor?

When you're doing this to change the water pump. Save some labor. First thing I'm going to do is take the prop off so we can work with it a little better. Here.

How do you fix a bent skeg on an outboard motor?

All that you have to do is to take a couple of large hammers, or one large hammer and one large backing dolly to straighten the skeg. Put the backing hammer or dolly on the side — that is in the direction that you want the skeg to move. Then take the other hammer, and smash the skeg back in alignment.

What does a skeg look like?

A skeg is a fin-shaped part of the outboard motors used on small boats. These boat parts are situated beneath the boat’s propellers, serving as protection for the propellers as well as the motor’s gear case.

How do you repair a cracked skeg?

It's got the hardener and the resin. And they need to be equal. Parts. So we're just gonna mix this up real quick some goo right there.

Where should water come out on an outboard motor?

On many outboards, you can simply put on the muffs and start the engine. You should see a steady stream of water coming out of the holes on the top of the engine. However, some brands do pump out a stream, but it might not look steady. While this can be alarming, it is perfectly normal for those models.

What does a stabilizer fin do?

Ship stabilizers (or stabilisers) are fins or rotors mounted beneath the waterline and emerging laterally from the hull to reduce a ship’s roll due to wind or waves. Active fins are controlled by a gyroscopic control system.

Should cavitation plate be underwater?

your cavitation plate should be right at the water level. As a rule of thumb it should be 1 inch above the hull for every 12 inches back. (if you have a eurotransom, or bracket or something.) If your cavitation plate is under water you might get better performance if you raise the motor.

What is the little fin above the prop?

The trim tab you are looking for is the small fin behind the prop. It extends down from the flat plate above the prop. by making small adjustments on the angle of the trim tab you deflect some of the thrust from the prop to the side to over come motor torque.

What is the piece above the propeller called?

It’s called a “trim” tab or “torque” tab. It’s actually part of the sacrificial anode attached to your anti-ventilation plate.

What is a cavitation plate?

Cavitation plates are mounted to the lower units of boats to help increase performance. They act as a planing surface to get your boat on top faster. They give you better bow response when trimming your motor. They keep water down at your prop and intake improving water pressure.

How far below the boat should the prop be?

If you have a short shaft motor, the top most part of the transom and the lower most part of the boat should be about 15 to 16 inches. For a long shaft, I think 20 to 21 inches is correct.

How do I know if my boat is Cavitating?

If you can feel vibration and your propeller has visible pitting, you have cavitation and you probably need professional help. If, however, your engine is over-revving you have a ventilation issue and this is usually something you can fix yourself.

How do you stop a boat from bouncing?

Slow your boat down. Porpoising begins as you motor picks up speed and raises your boat’s hull from the water, reducing the amount of hull in the water — which means there’s too little hull in the water to support the boat. Trim the motor down until the boat stops bouncing.

What causes a boat to hop?

What Causes Porpoising? Porpoising is the result of the motor’s outdrive pushing the boat upwards, essentially boosting it out of the water – albeit for a short period of time. Once the boat comes back down, the outdrive will once again push it back out of the water.

Why does my boat keep Porpoising?

A boat can porpoise because the weight in the boat is disproportionate between the bow and the stern. It might also be because of the trim angle of the engine and the mounting height of the engine difference.

How do you approach a large wave on a boat?

Approach waves at an angle. To lessen their impact on your boat, approach large waves at a 45-degree angle. You may need to think like a sailboat, zigzagging with the waves toward shelter or the dock rather than driving in a straight line.

Why should a boats gas tank never be completely filled?

It’s important to never fill the tank of your boat beyond 90% full. This leaves room for gas to expand and avoids the potential for overflow. Ensure that all air vents and valves to the gas tank are open.

How big is a 3 foot wave?

roughly six feet high

Thus, a “3-foot” wave is roughly six feet high (in actuality an H_m0 of ~1.8 m), i.e., head-high to a 6-foot (~180 cm) person; a “2-foot” wave is roughly four feet high (H_m0 of ~1.2 m), i.e., chest-high to such a person; and a “6- to 8-foot” wave would be 2 to approaching 3 times head-high to such a person (H_m0 of ~3.5 …

How far offshore can I take my boat?

A small inflatable boat can travel out 1 to 2 miles, a 20-foot center console can handle 5 to 10 miles offshore, and a cruiser can travel hundreds of miles. These numbers are just ranges, and the maximum safe distance you can go depends on the weather, your boat, and how good a captain you are.

What size boat is safe for the ocean?

You can fish offshore in a boat as small as 10 feet, although it’s best to have a boat at least 15 feet long for safety and efficiency when fishing offshore. Boats up to 30 or 40 feet may be appropriate for some kinds of offshore fishing.

How big of a boat do you need to cross the ocean?

Whether you are in a motorboat or a sailboat, you need a boat of at least 30 or 40 feet to cross the Atlantic Ocean. You need a boat this big because it has to be seaworthy, have enough room to store everything you need without being weighed down, and for your comfort.