Follow up from trim not working. Bent skeg and cracked

[schmir]

Just looking for advice on fixing my bent and cracked skeg. Maybe about a 2 inch crack/tear and slight bend. Did not realize it was damaged after I had hit a rock before I realized my trim was dropping to full tilt down. What do the experts suggest for a fix? A new stainless steel skeggard or try to have a welder fix it. New skeggard approx $110 and weld shop that specialized in aluminum welding say it will cost about a $1 a minute and is less than an hour job. They have not seen the boat yet, I just explained it to them. My concern is which will be stronger? Will aluminum weld weaken the skeg or will drilling the skeg with 1/4" holes for the bolts to hold the skeggard weaken it more? Plus it's bent. I was going to try to straighten it out a little with a rubber mallet. What do you think?? Any advice would be much appreciated!

[lakerunner]

A big C clamp using 2 pieces of wood and slowly tightning. Pounding might work but I think might break it. If clamp works live with crack or get it welded. Hell on Tenkiller half have skegs broken off and don't fix them.

[jimrs]

LR is right don't hit it with a hammer, rubber, steel, feathers, it will break off. I have never seen it fail to break. It only bends one way then off it comes. I have never lost one or broke one but I did bend one and never fixed it, not a problem.

[schmir]

Well, before I read the replies I wacked at it a few times with a rubber mallet. I guess I got lucky because it didn't break. I consider myself lucky with a slight bend and took to the welder. He said it would break too if we tried to bend back any more. He welded it for $20. I was pretty happy about that too. He even gave me a beer while I was there!

[badmoonrising]

Sounds like a good guy, cheap and a free beer