Prop Repair experiment

[Mark42]

I have a one season use Hustler prop that hit a rock(s) in shallow water last year. Two of the three blades had about two inches of the leading edge mashed flat. If you looked down the leading edge of the blade, it became T shaped. Seeing as I have other new replacements, I thought I would see how well epoxy held up as the re-build material for the prop edge. <br /><br />I started by tracing the clean blade on a piece of paper and matching that to the damaged blades. Both damaged blades are missing between 1/16 and 3/16 of the leading edge from tip to about 2" down the blade. The blade is not "out of line" so to say. I took a file and removed the mashed aluminum and rounded over the damaged area so there would be more contact surface than if it was flat. Mixed up standard marine epoxy and built up the edge. After hardening for a day I filed down the epoxy to match the trace of the good blade. A little sand paper and it is smooth. Not a bad job. I'm going to bring it along with me and test it next week in the bay. <br /><br />I am anxious to find out if there will be any detectable vibration (due to weight difference between epoxy and aluminum) and if the epoxy is strong enough to take the centrifugal force and pressures applied to it on the leading edge. <br /><br />I wonder how long it will last? Want to place a wager on its life expectancy?

 

[tengals123]

Re: Prop Repair experiment

I had a leading edge in a prop that I repaired with epoxy, and lasted for a whole season.<br /><br /><br />cheers

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Prop Repair experiment

Yeah, I've done that to my 9.9s alum prop too. It did chip off pretty easily but then my prop is always wanting the bottom. That was last year, about 75% of the repair is holding up well. I had chips and chunks missing from the alum no deeper than 1/8 to 3/16 inch. Pretty uh, redneck???

 

[goldhunter_2]

Re: Prop Repair experiment

Friend busted mine on a rock at the ramp I found thre parts to teh broken blade had a fried weld them up and grind it smooth that was three years ago I am still running the prop every week of duck season no problems

 

[Realgun]

Re: Prop Repair experiment

Mark Mark Mark why beat a dead prop? Get a new prop they are cheaper without the hub.<br /><br />Thats why I got me the Hustler too! How do you like yours?

 

[Realgun]

Re: Prop Repair experiment

Wow The price is 44.20 for a housing! +shipping but iBoats doesn't have a 17 pitch prop at all.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Prop Repair experiment

I put a new prop on my 35 horse and trashed it on the rocks the very first time out.It even had pieces missing and I patched it up with jb weld and ran it for a couple months without any noticeable vibration or performance issues. It held up well until it came in contact with another under water object.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Prop Repair experiment

Realgun,<br /><br />I really like the Hustler props. I bought a few back when they were $35 a prop. I don't have much to compare them to except a used OMC that was the first prop I tried. They are smooth, the cupped edge bites well and that silver finish they put on it holds up rather well.<br /><br />I can see the advantage of a stainless prop, it probably would not have become damaged from the same impact that messed up the aluminum. By brother in law has a big stainless on his 175hp Evinrude and he as run it into a few solid objects with narry a scratch!