Motor Materials

I work at a marina where there is a repair shop out back. One customer has broken off the skeg of their Mercruiser motor, and my boss said that the repair mechanics could weld that back on. My dad and I got talking and now we're both confused what type of metal the motor is made out of. He was thinking aluminum, and I have no idea. But I didn't think you could weld aluminum... so I'm confused. What metal is most often used in motor construction? Thanks!

 

You can buy a skeg repair kit from Mercruiser or an aftermarket supplier. It is an aluminum skeg you cut to fit the stump and TIG weld it on. I suppose MIG may work also.

 

I repaired one a long time ago. It was aluminum (cast aluminum) not the best for welding to....but it can be done as a cheap fix. Make sure you use a marine alloy like 5083 for the repair........and make sure you are safe when welding it up....batt disconnected...things like that.

Good luck

TIM

 

The leg is cast aluminum. The engine is porbably just cast iron, possiby with aluminum heads, but more likely just cast iron heads. Skeg kits are readily available, and provided that the original hasn't become too "grainy" from sitting in salt water, it should TIG ok. Years ago there was an aftermarket skeg that could be stuck on with epoxy, but haven't seen one for years.