Rear-ended

[roy_eros]

Just picked the boat up from the shop today for a good tune up, and looks like im going right back in the morning. I got rear ended while slowing for traffic, thankfully no body was hurt but im not sure about the ole boat. The visual damage is the bottom of my keel is bent up pretty bad, and my prop is a little bent. I am surprised the trim seems to still be working fine. I couldnt tell that anything around the hitch area was bent or out of place, and i think the trailer is fine. Im sure my mechanic will do a great job on finding anything else wrong, but i was just curious on what else you guys thought might have been damaged (internaly). All i really know for sure is im probably going to need a new prop, and transom saver, but im pretty worried about the stuff inside the lower unit. What do you think?

Roy

[Dutch]

I'd also be concerned with the transom of the boat with that kind of impact.

[fishinwrench]

I'd also be concerned with the transom of the boat with that kind of impact.

Hard to say without seeing it, BUT...

Put a wrench on the lower unit bolts, loosen and re-tighten each one of them to make sure it didn't partially shear off one of them.

Check for a bent propshaft.

Impact like that can cause gear failure later on, especially if it was in gear when the impact occured (lots of people put the engine in gear when trailering so the prop doesn't spin while going down the road).

If the propshaft is damaged (bent) you can request a magnaflux test on the gears. Don't let the insurance companys off the hook until you are perfectly satisfied that all is well.

No skeg or gearcase housing damage ?

[taxidermist]

Prop shaft!!!

Had a guy bump me last year, did not see any damage hit the water and there was a imbalance, turned out the to be the propr shaft was bent. Prop was fine and its aluminum, go figure.

[roy_eros]

Yeah i can tell just when i spin it with my hand that the prop shaft is out of balance. The boat wasnt in gear but im am going to make sure everything really gets checked over good. The gearcase housing is fine but the skeg is bent up pretty good. What is usually done in that situation, is the skeg easy to repair or will a new lower unit be a better option?

[soggyfeet]

There is a bolt-on type skeg available but if their insurance is covering it I would go with what ever new you can get. It sounds like with bent skeg, bent propshaft, and possiable gear damage you might want to go with a new lower unit.

[fishinwrench]

Yeah i can tell just when i spin it with my hand that the prop shaft is out of balance. The boat wasnt in gear but im am going to make sure everything really gets checked over good. The gearcase housing is fine but the skeg is bent up pretty good. What is usually done in that situation, is the skeg easy to repair or will a new lower unit be a better option?

Replacing the propshaft requires a complete reseal,relube job and shimming, plus the work to the skeg, prop and paint....taking all parts and labor into consideration you could be (depending on make, model, and H.P.) real close to the cost of a replacement lower unit (with warranty).

Since the lower unit will need to be removed anyway, it is as good a time as any to add a fresh water pump kit.

If I can help with a second quote let me know. simsmarine@sbcglobal.net

[roy_eros]

Ok thanks fishinwrench..bad part about that is the reason i had the boat in the shop was to get it tuned up and get a new water pump in..so thats kind of a bummer.

My motor is a 2005 Merc 150 xr6,

Hopefully i can manage that new lower unit and be done with it!