GJ Carey Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Hi Guys, I have a older explorer which has a slightly bent skeg. It appears to be the hard nylon type. Can I straighten it, and if so, how? Boiling water, two straight pieces of wood, or something more sophisticated? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Crouse Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I would remove the skeg from the boat, it will be easier to work on and you'll have a chance to clean the cable (slider skeg) or change the bungies and ropes if it's a rope skeg. I would start by flattening the skeg underneath some weights (books, tool box, etc...) it may return to shape. if that doesn't do it you might have to bend in in the opposite direction so that it will return to a straight position. Heating it may allow it to return to it's shape too. Then again I bent the skeg in my Argonaut 90 degrees to the side and it came back to it's normal shape without me doing anything to it. So you may want to wait and week or so and see what happens. Never put a loaded boat down without checking if the skeg has deployed ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick stoehrer Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 bent? like over to the left or right? will it retract? will it deploy? how'd you do that? wow...just when you think you've gone and dinged up an explorer in most ways known to man, somebody comes along and throws a curve....at any rate, congratulations! i've never tried this and can only assume that it's made out of some kind of plastic/nylon....try heating it with an air gun and putting it between 2 pieces of wood and then use pressure....i dunno...anyone else have any ideas? if you're looking for more definitve advice i'd try phil clegg...he works for nigel and his work email is (phil@nigeldenniskayaks.com)...he might be able to help you out or get a replacement shipped....for that matter, tom up at mikco (www.maineislandkayak.com) may be able to help you out. ...and you don't really need that thing anyways ya know...just take it out. good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJ Carey Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 Thanks Guys, It's more of a curve, rather than a definate bend, and to be honest it's been there since I purchesed the boat (4 years). The skeg accidently deployed a couple of times and I'm sure I whacked it landing and launching. I actually don't use the skeg very much but as I'm looking at it, it has finally got me annoyed enough to try and straighten it. I'll try the heat approach and see where it gets me. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I bet if you got ice in there at any point it could bend it, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Never tred this on a skeg, but sometimes plastic items immersed in very hot water, long enough to soften , and then set up so they hang verticaly , will straighten themselves. This works, e.g. for the sword blabes and rifle barrels on plastic toy soldiers etc., might work with a skeg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin B (RPS Coach) Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 > e.g. for the sword blabes and rifle >barrels on plastic toy soldiers etc., might work with a >skeg. Hmm, do we want to know more or would that just open Pandora's Box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Nystrom Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I've bent it back a few times, but it seems to have taken a semi-permanent curve. One of these days I'll take it out and heat it. If you want to try it, start by using a hair dryer, as that won't get hot enough to damage the plastic. If that doesn't work, you can try a heat gun, but be sure to heat it gradually and slowly and keep it moving, so it heats the blade evenly and all the way through. You don't want to melt the surface and have the interior be still to cold to bend. Lastly, if you have a flat metal or glass plate, you could put the skeg on it and bake it in an oven (full size, not a toaster oven) at 200 degrees or so. That may only be possible if you're not married... ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillian Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Eh, just buy a new boat - it's a good excuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJ Carey Posted March 24, 2007 Author Share Posted March 24, 2007 Funny you should mention that, a skegless Romany has just been added to the collection! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shewhorn Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 OK, I've tried SOOOOOO hard to resist posting something completely unproductive but it's finally too much for me to take so here goes... "I bent my Wookie" - Ralphy Cheers, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Thanks for going first Joe. Now when you witness one (a fellow kayaker, by necessity) suffering a hissy-fit, or in a twit, say "Don't get your skeg all bent". Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnsladd Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Hi, Carl from Osprey,I can replace it for you, with a plexi skeg that won't bend. you can contact me by email cnsladd@cox.net. The replacement cost is $35.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccarlson Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Just out of curiousity, do you fab these yourself or are they a universal replacement of some sort? Mine isn't bent (yet) but plexi might just be the right stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnsladd Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Yes I Fab them myself and use all the original hardware. I am very happy with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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