BAD BAD EXPERIENCE!! HELP!!

Well, just had an awful day. We just bought new boards and carpet to replace old boards on trailer. Took it to the local watering hole so son and I could fish for a few minutes while wife and other son swapped them. Here is where the disaster begins. While frustrated with youngest for being unhelpful and clueless I forgot to put the plug in the boat. Hmm...so a few minutes out on the water I remember and start yelling for them to reload the trailer that is now missing one board. Wife quckly puts the board back on without nuts and backs into the water. Not wanting to youngest son with me to get nervous, I tried to load the boat too fast which took several tries. It didn't help that I was getting kinda nervous and was anxious as the boat was clearly filling with water underneath. Finally we load it as the board fell off the trailer. Still the least of our worries as I told the wife to pull us out and forgot to raise the motor. Needless to say we got slightly stuck and motor wouldn't come up. Without any other thought we backed up slightly to lift motor. Now the fin on the bottom of the motor is bent. HELP!! Can it be bent back or what shall we do? Or should we leave it. Haven't taken it for a test drive to see what the ramification on steering is. BAD BAD DAY

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Like what tuna said - but first get some speed up even if ya have to do circles with the bilge on - this will actually suck the water out - I had a few sinking  experiences and now keep two plugs in the boat . This also might help ya out ...

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0001180011002a&navCount=1&podId=0001180&parentId=cat420002&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat21276-cat420002&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat420002&hasJS=true

If it is aluminum it might snap - if ya bring it to a a repair shop watch what hey have to say if they want to heat it up to bend it back - it could damage the seals so ask if they damage the seals are they responsible ...

I wouldnt cut it off until you have the replacement in hand and know exactly how much to cut (no more then needed). check your marine shop they may have them in stock for less $$..
 
hack saw will do a fine job .
 
 

If the bend is near the middle of the skeg a welding shop should be able to heat and bend it without ruining the seals or snapping it.
Be sure to go to a place that works with aluminum.
A lot of the prop repair shops also repair skegs.
If you have an Alpha drive it might be best to remove the lower unit, straighten the bend, replace the water pump and seals

I think that the stainless repair kit should be used as a last resort.
When aluminum and stainless pieces are used together the aluminum will always break before the stainless.
If you hit a stainless skeg plan on replacing the lower unit

If you have a short piece of bar stock or 1/2" plate you might be able to use a few heavy clamps and bend it back.

I did this on my Four Winns Alpha

ORIGINAL: Ragincajun94

Have you ever just not wanted to take it to the boat shop and have to be embarassed when the guy looks at it and you know he is thinking....um..you did this huh? "You idiot!" he is thinking.

lol

That is when you say,"**** Wife!!!" and he still thinks your an idiot but you feel better....

Call Don's Prop Shop in Clayton... he will give you the best advice. Being in the 1000 Islands for 20 years,  I think he's seen it all...
 
Although the experience sucks, don't feel alone. Everyone's done it - at least once. If they haven't the're either to proud to admit it, or they don't use their boat...

Well as for feeling dumb I guess we all do that at one time or another. if you get to feelin to bad just think of sue and burt, I'll leave the rest of name off, lol
They came to the church bass outing back in 72 in Louisiana had their 14 aluminum boat and 9.9 outboard. great couple just not to bright some how he had gotten gas all over the engine and cause it wouldnt start one of the other church members pulled up beside them and pulled the plug wire holding it to see if it would spark, Burt pulled the cord "SPARK" and the little gas on the engine caught, seen it a hundred times no real danger BUT! some one in another boat Joking called out "IT'S GOIN TO BLOW JUMP!!" splash lmao, burts wife Sue bailed out of the boat. with everyone busting a gut and I mean all 14 boats and 25 or so people she climbed back into the boat and as she stood at the front she demanded Burt return to the bank. now it will never be known if he did it on purpose or not but claimed the throttle stuck. He hit the bank wide open sending his poor wet wife sailing 20 ft through the air skidding to a halt in mud. (we all kept the laughter to a low choking chukle. but they sold their fishin boat the following week and I hear they play golf now. true story I promise.Burt, Susan if by chance you ever see this, I was laughing with you not at you!

Well, I took the boat to Don's Prop shop in clayton on Wednesday. $500 and a week and 1/2 away I will get it back. UGH. Wouldn't you know that wednesday and through this sunday are absolutely beautiful days. The best weather in 5 consecutive days since sometime last year. But when I get it back its go time to black lake. I have heard enough about how great it is, now its time to see for myself. I belong to the black lake forum as well and sounds like the fish are plentiful. Thanks again for the help.

nope. The cost does include refurbishing the prop which you can't really see in the pic but is chewed up pretty good from when I first got the boat and had some learning experiences loading it and hitting gravel etc. So I thought since stainless steel props go for $500 themselves it was a good idea to have it done. That and I didn't take the lower unit off. He will have to have the marine next door do it for him which is included in the cost I hope.

Hey I learned a great trick on the Tennessee shad lure. Replace the front treble hook with a trebble hook just one size bigger or even two sizes. you want it to make the lure even buoyancy so when you stop realing or pulling it it stops dead still niether rizing or sinking it just sits still. I have seen it time and time again out catch some one not doing it 3 to 1 or more. also works well with deep diving shadrap. or any time they are following but not quite taking it.