Author Topic: You can call me skegless (Read 26423 times)

Plugcheck · « **Reply #20 on:** August 18, 2015, 01:01:39 PM »

Was also told that I can purchase an SD chip for my Garmin Nuvi that will do navigation on the water. Got all winter to look at all the offerings. Having an on board chaperone would be reassuring, especially if I purchase the SEI outdrive.

Plugcheck · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2015, 10:46:06 PM »

Found several sources for weld on skegs, but for alpha gen 2. Having some trouble finding one for earlier gen 1 alpha. Anyone know of an online source?

Rich_V174SS · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2015, 06:07:08 AM »

You can use the gen 2 replacement skeg on a gen 1, I've seen it done.

nes-cv23 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 19, 2015, 06:27:18 AM »

This guy in New Progue is real good. I've seen him repair some realy bad ones. Also very good with props. and reasonable on price.

David CVX-16 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 19, 2015, 06:58:52 AM »

If that does not work out, try Mark's prop shop in Stacy, MN. He has fixed two of my skegs and straightened props.

http://www.markspropshop.com/

Rosscoe · « **Reply #25 on:** August 19, 2015, 08:17:20 AM »

Terry
Some Navigation program would be nice but can you really look at it while piloting a boat?

I had NO idea there are that many wing dams.
I don't see any where I think I lost a chunk of my skeg. Maybe just shallow.

still_fishin · « **Reply #26 on:** August 19, 2015, 03:44:05 PM »

I know I have the advantage when it comes to reading the river, I grew up on it. There are only a few instances when "reading the river" is just about impossible. Saturday we all experienced one of those. When the wind blows up river it can be hard if not impossible to spot the ripple above the wing damn. Depending on current flow that ripple is usually just down river, I'm talking feet, of the actual dam. It also depends on how deep the dam is. The deeper the dam the less of a ripple. I can explain more later. It is daddy daycare time.

V153 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 19, 2015, 04:31:54 PM »

I got good at spyin them Sunday thanks to Bob'n Jeremy. Once I knew what I was looking for I could see em purty easily. But I can deinitely envision the water bein so rough you might not see one?

Plugcheck · « **Reply #28 on:** August 20, 2015, 07:32:15 AM »

We were able to spot some of them when the conditions calmed down, seems odd they would purposely create such a hazard. The Missouri river also has similar dams, but they are well above the water except for very high water conditions, and NO ONE boats when those conditions are present. From what I found out, it differs due to the currents involved. The Miss runs a bit slower, so they are longer to create enough flow to "gouge" the channel, but under to deal with high water conditions without dramatically increasing flow rate. At least that what's a local COE guy suggested. Bought a weld on skeg online yesterday for roughly $25.00, when it arrives, it will be time to tear down the lower half. Was considering adding a nose cone, but cant seem to locate one for an Alpha. The very nose of the drive took a pretty good gouge, so I need to do something in that area, just filling and smoothing seems a bit plain considering I will already be there welding. From what I've read it will take some time, you must be cautious about too much heat in the housing deforming the thrust bearing area. Might just have to post some pics on this project since I've not seen this issue covered before on this forum.

Terry_Curran · « **Reply #29 on:** August 20, 2015, 02:21:42 PM »

Quote from: Rosscoe on August 19, 2015, 08:17:20 AM

Terry
Some Navigation program would be nice but can you really look at it while piloting a boat?

I had NO idea there are that many wing dams.
I don't see any where I think I lost a chunk of my skeg. Maybe just shallow.

Yes and no Ross. Yes if you're going slow enough to watch the screen, along with moving the screen as you travel. When Nancy and I returned from eating dinner on Wednesday evening, I was using the Navionics app to navigate the channel from the Mississippi to TI as it was too dark to see. I had used it on our way to dinner, so, it showed where I had boated on my way out. Just followed the line back in!

Terry

Rosscoe · « **Reply #30 on:** August 20, 2015, 08:37:01 PM »

I'm likely going to have to do something. Not sure what App I want or if I want a depth gauge (too late) or an actual screen. I'd like something I can take from boat to boat so a phone app would be good but then I'd have to mount it.
I looked today and besides my skeg damage, one blade on the prop took a hit.
The problem I think I had was loosing the buoys. If I can only see one, I assume I can be to the other and the channel is just wide.
Been boating since I was about 5 but its all been lakes prior to 2009

Rosscoe · « **Reply #31 on:** August 20, 2015, 09:50:35 PM »

Quote from: Plugcheck on August 18, 2015, 07:54:18 AM

Thanks for the maps, I will need to have those handy for next year. From a cursory review, it appears we clipped the dams in the MP 810 area. I do not remember seeing any buoys, river was fairly straight, and we were very close to the middle. Got pushed to the right from larger boats wake, trying to find calmer water. In hindsight, we should have stopped and waited for the channel to clear up some. Education comes in many forms, sometimes we learn the hard way.

Sorry Mike. We waited until both you and Tim were running and coming out into the channel at Kinni. Kinda took off after that but would have likely led you into whatever it was you hit. Don't follow me. That part of the river is unfamiliar to me but regardless, the buoy colors remain the same. Many times on the Sunset Cruise, I could not differentiate between green and red. Must be age..or the sun or lack there of. Those suckers should be florescent!

Plugcheck · « **Reply #32 on:** August 20, 2015, 10:34:42 PM »

No one to blame but me for a lack of preparedness. Next year I hope to have some form of GPS guidance should I find myself apart from the group. Maybe a local for copilot duties?

David CVX-16 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 21, 2015, 02:32:40 PM »

This is how Mark's Prop Shop in Stacy, MN attached a stock skeg to the broken skeg on my 1988 115 HP Mercury. Note the zig zag cut where it is attached to get additional strength. The skeg broke when the former owner backed the boat down the driveway.

Motor has been sitting since 2011 waiting for the Johnson outboard to retire.

Plugcheck · « **Reply #34 on:** August 21, 2015, 02:54:01 PM »

Handsome on the transom! Good looking OB, and nice work on the Skeg. I would be tempted to do a bolt on skeg if I had that much remaining, but I have little to none left to bolt to. The new skeg I bought looks identical to that, it appears that the Alpha 1 gen 2 is the only one available for a decent price. Some NOS around, but I was not willing to part with $140+ to buy one. Thinking about some other touch ups while I'm done there if I can find some billet to turn. Nose cones appear to be available for Bravo only, doesn't anyone go fast with an Alpha anymore?

fireman24mn · « **Reply #35 on:** August 21, 2015, 03:00:25 PM »

Another problem is that sometimes one of the channel markers are on the shore. There are not always 2 in the river one my be in the middle of the river and the other on shore. There is one spot that I always get outside where I should be when heading back to TI. I have always caught it at the last minute and went to the other side of the buoy. I am sure that is where you got off course. The "channel goes way to the east side of the river and the green buoy is in the middle of the channel.

V153 · « **Reply #36 on:** August 21, 2015, 05:20:58 PM »

Ya. You probly zigged when ya shoulda zagged ... Bummer.

Shorty · « **Reply #37 on:** August 21, 2015, 05:23:16 PM »

That is a bummer man! But I suppose it could have been worse!

V153 · « **Reply #38 on:** August 21, 2015, 07:02:50 PM »

Fwiw I nicked the bottom while back. Took a hunk outa the skeg but didn't damage the prop? Felt lucky til the gearcase came apart couple weeks later ...

Rosscoe · « **Reply #39 on:** August 21, 2015, 07:51:05 PM »

Quote from: fireman24mn on August 21, 2015, 03:00:25 PM

Another problem is that sometimes one of the channel markers are on the shore. There are not always 2 in the river one my be in the middle of the river and the other on shore. There is one spot that I always get outside where I should be when heading back to TI. I have always caught it at the last minute and went to the other side of the buoy. I am sure that is where you got off course. The "channel goes way to the east side of the river and the green buoy is in the middle of the channel.

This sounds familiar. Luckily, I didn't hit anything that time.