Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | I had a 1980 50hp tiller and was pretty new to boating. Drifted into a rocky bay in windy weather and the waves picked the boat up and when it came down the skeg hit rock and bent about an inch. I took two steel plates, clamped them on either side of the skeg, had a friend buck one side with a heavy maul and proceeded to pound on the other side. After a few licks I tightened the steel plates and repeated the proceedure a few more times. The skeg didn't break and returned to a more normal looking position. I ran that motor for another 11 seasons after that and the skeg hit things in rivers and lakes but never broke.
I don't know if the aluminum is the same makeup in your motor but you could always give it a try. Worse thing that can happen is you break it off and will have to get a new one welded on. The guys that do aluminum prop repair are good at fixing things like that and it is cheaper than buying a new gearcase.
If it is really bad why don't you have your insurance cover it and get an new gearcase?
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