How bad is too bad?

[superbenk]

I have a new prop on order but it won't be here until next week. I'm wondering if the following prop looks too beat up to use for the weekend in all of your opinions?

The prop is only a week old but I picked up a rock loading the boat on the trailer at the end of vacation You can see there are some chips out of a couple of the blades and they've all been scraped up. Nothing appears bent that I've noticed.

I also have the original 3-blade prop that I was replacing with the 4-blade. The 3-blade got chewed up early in the same week. Both strikes were due to low lake levels (expensive week):

Again, none of the blades are bent as far as I can tell, but there's clearly a chip out of the blade. The 3-blade spun the hub, but I can use the hub from the 4-blade in it if necessary (both are Mercury props so the Flo-Torq hub should be interchangeable).

 

[Sea Rider]

Seen much worse, go ahead. If prop vibrates at full hamer down, throttle less till stops...

Happy Boating

 

[Scott Danforth]

the 4-blade hit when you were in reverse, the 3-blade when you were in forward. I would straighten the little bit of additional cupping on the 4 blade (either a pliers or hammer and dolly) and run it. the 3 blade also doesnt look bad. most good prop shops will have them looking new in short order.

 

[ThomW]

I agree with both above. Seen worse, used worse. Make sure you didn't bend prop shaft at all, and run it! Either prop looks like you could get away with using it until you get a new or fixed replacement. Just make sure you pay attention and if it starts to shake or wobble, lay off the throttle a bit.

 

[superbenk]

New prop is a stainless which I think would have survived either scrape without issue. I'll be sending one or both out for repair once my stainless comes in & use them as spares. The 3-blade was repaired once last year (wasn't bad, just wanted it cleaned up) - is there a limit to how many times aluminum props should be fixed?

 

[Scott Danforth]

I havent found a limit yet, and on one prop they had to replace an entire blade...... dang oyster covered boat.

 

[gm280]

As long as you have the money, they will repair them like new. JMHO