second hand boat
Submitted by keg on Sun, 2013-02-17 08:12
hi all
i have just bought a second hand boat and have noticed the skeg on the bottom of the motor is bent. has anyone had a go at straightening one. i`m not sure how brittle the aluminium is and don`t want to force it and snap it off.
cheers
keg
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sea-kem
Posts: 15028
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Being made from a marine
Being made from a marine grade alloy it will brittle as the stuff does not lend itself to being bent. Best option would be to heat it with an oxy and straighten.
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carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Trick
If you are going to heat it yourself put texta marks on it first, when the marks start to disappear remove the heat because ali doesn't glow red before it melts.
Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
ha
I have used that trick over the years, was passed onto me along time back but Ive never heard anyone else mention it!
Works a treat, just right for annealing temps!
Be careful on where the bend is, if its real close to the torpedo might be better to leave it alone or get one of those stainless skeg to bolt over
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sea-kem
Posts: 15028
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Yeah should've mentioned
Yeah should've mentioned that. Doesn't need much heat to make it move. Have some pressure already applied and once it starts to move remove the heat. If you over heat it will just collapse the ali.
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stevebw23
Posts: 155
Date Joined: 12/11/11
we used to straighten
we used to straighten aluminium motorbike brake/clutch levers by putting them in a vice and hitting them with a hammer (without heating). they would just snap if we tried to bend them back slowly
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sea-kem
Posts: 15028
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Probably just 5005 grade
Probably just 5005 grade very bendable.
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keg
Posts: 399
Date Joined: 17/07/07
thanks for that.
wasn`t sure whether to put oxy on it or not but it sounds like the go.i`ll try the trick with the texta,
i`ve heard aluminium gives no warning before it melts.
creamy
Posts: 4
Date Joined: 16/04/12
Bent skeg
I damaged a prop and bent my skeg quite badly. I thought the worst but my local boat mechanic hammered it out near as perfect. Before he straightened it I asked if it would need to be heated up and he said no as heat would have a bad efect on the alloy, just used a big hammer and a block of wood.
sea-kem
Posts: 15028
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Haven't heard that before.
Haven't heard that before. The only thing I'd be concerend about is the paint and not getting it near the gearbx and melting seals etc.
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creamy
Posts: 4
Date Joined: 16/04/12
I was surprised how malleable
I was surprised how malleable it was. I must admit I expected it to break.