New Ulterra - fin is crooked?

[Larry3215]

Just finished installing a new Riptide Ulterra and noticed the fin is not straight on the bottom of the motor. Is this normal? Should I be worried?

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[bnewman046]

It looks just like my Maxxum! I think that's normal.

[AllyFishing]

I beg to differ. Why would that be "normal" when it is clearly off center? I knocked my MG tour skeg off center trying to load the boat on the trailer on an electric motor only lake one summer coming in real fast to the trailer and was a bit too late getting the TM out of the water before I hit the trailer frame with the lower unit of the MG. I actually thought I bent the skeg but after careful measuring I came to realize I "turned" the actual skeg housing. So I removed the prop and very carefully loosened each bolt that holds the skeg end to the nose cap piece and then rotated it back straight. tightened up the bolts, installed the prop and turned on the TM thru all speeds and the motor actually sounded quieter.

[Rip Bass]

It's not normal or maybe it is bit it's not supposed to be like that. You can remove the prop and loosen the two bolts on the end cap and turn the skeg back straight. Loosen them just enough to move the skeg. Hitting something hard enough will cause the skeg to move,yours may have been bumped in shipping.

[Smokeyr67]

Could it be to compensate for prop torque ? I'm know that on single engine prop aircraft the vertical fin is usually offset by a couple of degrees, but thats in the horizontal, not vertical plane.

[billnorman1]

You have many choices. If it's new and it bothers you call Minnkota. You could check and see if the bolts may have been left loose, there are O rings under them to keep water out, they need to be tight. You could tighten them, or if they're loose and you want the skeg straight, tap the skeg with something soft, then tighten them. Motors can operate with the skeg in any position, it doesn't steer the boat it protects the prop, and transducer if used.

[Mark Weare]

You've either struck something very hard amd rotated the motor housing or your screws are loose enough to allow for rotation too easily. Either way, this could allow for water to get by the seals so I would consider replacing those, especially the ones on the screws. Line it all up and set the torque on screws.

[NKY TRITON]

Mine was somewhat like this when I got it back from being rebuilt. I figured it was half a$$'d so I loosened the 2 bolts behind the prop and straightened it. Come to find out, that's what the tech does to tune it/make it run more quiet.

Charlie

[Larry3215]

Thanks guys!

We havent even had it in the water yet. I'll check the screws and be sure they are tight. I think Im going to contact Minn Kota just to be on the safe side. Dont want them accusing me of banging the motor around if there is an issue. The box was undamaged when we got it, so I doubt it is shipping related. I suspect this is a "Friday" motor and the person who assembled it wanted to go home early.....

[Jonestrollingmotor]

Remove the prop. slightly loosen the bolts and rotate straight, then retighten. If it's not been in the water, no need to worry about water intrusion.
John

[Larry3215]

Thanks John. I will try that.

[Larry3215]

Just got off the phone with Minn Kota support. They said exactly the same thing John and others said - loosen bolts, adjust fin, go fishing :)

[Golfrnut]

Received and installed mine about 3 weeks ago. Mine was exactly the same. Perhaps the cardboard blocks in the shipping container are the wrong height and cause it?!? I dunno. I just eyeballed mine to center as well. No further issues.

[Larry3215]

Fixed it today. If I hadnt spent 15 minutes looking for the prop pin I dropped in the grass, it would only have taken about 5 minutes.... :)

One of the bolts was quite a bit looser than the other one, so Im glad I checked it.

We got it out on the water today and it works great!

[toofy]

Fixed it today. If I hadnt spent 15 minutes looking for the prop pin I dropped in the grass, it would only have taken about 5 minutes.... :)

One of the bolts was quite a bit looser than the other one, so Im glad I checked it.

We got it out on the water today and it works great!

I dropped that pin too the first time I opened it up! My Ulterra hit a dock once on a windy rough day and I learned a lot from this video on how to straighten it:

[Larry3215]

Thanks for posting that video. After watching it, a couple of others that were helpful to me also popped up.

[billnorman1]

I know, grammar Nazis are not popular, but the word SKAG is:http://onlineslangdictionary.com/mea...nition-of/skag

The word SKEG applies more to things associated with boating: https://www.google.com/search?q=skeg...hrome&ie=UTF-8

[Larry3215]

hehehehe

[John Hagins]

Something to keep in mind. When removing the prop keep the blades parallel to the ground and then the pin will also be parallel so it won't fall out!!

John

[Larry3215]

Good tip. I was thinking about using a dab of non-hardening gasket sealer to help hold it in place or maybe even just some marine grease.