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On occasion, I have installed the cover WITHOUT a gasket and gently tapped the top of the cover with a rubber mallet to return it to shape. The metal-on-metal will prevent the cover from cracking. Aluminum can be bent a little bit if it is supported during the process. I have also straightened skegs in a similar fashion, with a ball peen hammer and a sledge. The sledge rests against the convex side of the skeg, with the ball peen hammer tapping on the concave side until the skeg is straightened. Same can be done with most aluminum castings. The key is to support the back side so that the casting doesn’t just flex and break. Many moderate taps will work better than a few heavy blows.