Marine engine skeg-boot, protection, absorption, permanent conversion and horizontal lift wing component

Abstract

A marine engine lower unit which contains the gear housing and skeg blade is exposed to damage below the water line due to structures striking the skeg. The Skeg-Boot is a component that totally encapsulates the skeg blade unit from the lower gear housing to the lower edge on the existing skeg unit. The component is a permanent preventative, permanent repair device and a component that enhances control performance and the aesthetic appearance of the marine engine. It has the capabilities of fitting a majority of marine engine sizes and styles. The Skeg-Boot requires no hardware fasteners to install and are not recommended for the component. The component has a dual purpose of also fitting on the lower units horizontal planes as a lift wing device that fits both sides, left to right, to further enhance engine control and performance.

1 .) As a permanent component that totally encompasses a marine engine skeg unit, the Skeg-Boot is secured in position with a highly technical vulcanize adhesive filler material which fills all voids in the cavity between the marine engine skeg unit and the Skeg-Boot component to form a flexible vulcanized barrier without the use of hardware fasteners or drilling so fractures are limited as described.  
   
   
       2 .) The Skeg-Boot will be manufactured containing a high impact polymer composite material with a singular matrix of virgin components. The material at the time is proprietary to the supplier of raw materials.  
   
   
       3 .) The Skeg-Boot being constructed of high strength composite material also known as a polymer, is compatible with the marine engine skeg units that are manufactured generally of aluminum. When metals dissimilar to each other, including aluminum to aluminum contacts without total air evacuation, debris and salt water contamination will form corrosion or electrolysis between the units thereby weakening the structures.  
   
   
       4 .) The Skeg-Boot is sized and shaped to conform to most marine engine skegs without the end suppliers having to stock various sizes for applications. It forms a highly acceptable fit to the marine engines without appearing as an add-on component.  
   
   
       5 .) The Skeg-Boot is designed to fit the forward edge of the marine engine gear housing to the rear edge of the gear housing with minimal shaping for custom fits if desired.  
   
   
       6 .) The Skeg-Boot has two structurally raised lines from front to rear on the sides of the component stopping and contouring in to both fore and aft edges. The lines are reinforcements only to prevent vertical and horizontal twisting of the underlayed marine engine skeg unit.  
   
   
       7 .) The Skeg-Boot component is constructed of a material compound that is paintable with minimal preparation to match a marine engine color if desired.  
   
   
       8 .) The Skeg-Boot has on its lower plane a wear bumper that is contoured in shapes with a measured amount of sacrificial material in order to soften the impact of an object and to resist scrapes and sanding in low water and accidental landings. The plane bumper is set at angles that corresponds with the trim of the engine without impacting directly at a straight horizontal plane of impact.  
   
   
       9 .) The Skeg-Boot is intended as a preventative and absorption device. With the added performance and aesthetic enhancement qualities to be installed as a component of a new Marine engine and secondary as a permanent repair to used marine engines or a s an enhancement to used marine engines as described.  
   
   
       10 .) The Skeg-Boot can be used as a horizontal lift wing to be attached to the marine engine lower units planes without changes in it's intended ornamental appearance or shapes, and one side fits both sides by reversing direction of application, as described.