Bent Skag / Prop cavitation / Fast Idle

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  • jwhposon
    • Mar 2005
    • 159

    • Oregon


    Bent Skag / Prop cavitation / Fast Idle

    OK, I am so confused here. I have a 2004 SAN, while pulling three tubes from the ski pylon, four kids in the tubes totalling about 380lbs I noticed a slight cavitation in the prop. Almost like the transmission was slipping or something. It did it quite a bit in addition the idle would not return to 500, it stays at 2k until I pump it quick two times and then only sometimes it goes down. Otherwise I shut it off and it generally comes back to normal. However, when I put the boat on the trailer I noticed clearly the front skag was bent. It was bent from about the middle down with a curl, not actually bent from ground up but center curled to the right (driver side). I was not ever really sure what the skags do, so I didn't pull it off but I did get it relatively straight and inline with the others. So the real question is should I buy a new one? Could that have created an air void enough to cavitate the prop? Have you experienced such a fast idle? One additional insight is that the perfect pass would not consistently work - it would reach speed, beep, and then go fast all the way back to about 10mph when it was set at 20. By the way, the idle thing happens when PP is on or off - not consistent. Any idea's here would be appreciated on all the items above before I go to the dealer - you guys are awesome and thanks for taking the time to read.
  • bkhallpass
    1,000 Post Club Member
    • Apr 2005
    • 1407

    • Discovery Bay, CA

    • 2001 Super Air Nautique (Current) 1998 Ski Nautique (former) 1982 Ski Nautique (Current)

    #2
    The "skegs" are called tracking fins, and that it what they
    do, control tracking. The tracking fins keep the boat
    on a straight line, and help the boat to continue to track
    when a skier and/or wakeboarder pull out to the side. The tracking
    fins also help the boat turn sharply without sliding sideways.

    With only one fin bent sideways, it is possible that you hit something in
    the water. However, it seems unlikely. You would need to hit something
    really big, and you would have known it. The more likely scenario was
    that the skeg was bent putting the boat on the trailer? Do you remember
    ever getting it sideways, or way out of line?

    The skeg is easy to replace. Three or four screws hold it in. It is also
    glued with a waterproof sealant. You may need to pry it off. Clean
    the area, apply a fresh layer of sealant, and screw in the new fin. They
    cost 40 or 50 bucks.

    Sorry, I can't help with the idle issues (my total guess would be
    an issue with the computer, or perhaps an issue with
    how the PP was hooked up.

    Hard to believe that a bent fin could cause prop spin, but I guess its
    possible. Bent fin may also be impacting the water flow past your PP
    paddle wheel.

    BKH
    2001 Super Air

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