How often do you damage a prop?

[bassboy1]

Re: How often do you damage a prop?

Replace them all the time, but that is due to the dead props that come on project motors I buy, not to me damaging them. I have only hit something hard at speed twice, and both times the skeg ramped up them. Though, when I went to the coast for the first time this summer, the Intracoastal Waterway, and salt flats are totally different from the reservoirs up here in N. Ga. I grounded myself so many times, even thinking I was in the channel (not having a sonar with me probably was a factor in that). My prop has very little paint left now...... Luckily I didn't ever find an oyster bar though.....

 

[dave11]

Re: How often do you damage a prop?

I thought props were supposed to be polished regularly on the bottom. Your fish finder will help.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: How often do you damage a prop?

It's another one of those "not IF, but WHEN" situations. The more hours you spend operating boats, the more often it will happen. Of course the number of times will vary depending on your boating conditions. Fresh/salt water, manmade/natural lakes, etc, etc. I spent several years working on the ocean on fish farms, and wrecked a couple of props over that time. Some guys would wreck one almost every other time they drove a boat! I've only bent one prop while boating recreationally over many years. Paying attention to your surroundings will prevent alot of damage, but small (ish) chunks of wood etc floating around sometimes just can't be seen in some water conditions and it's just a matter of time 'till you find one with the prop.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: How often do you damage a prop?

I live in Utah and have boated all of my life have always been okay at the mountian lakes, but I also boat at lake powell a lot. That lake can be 40-50 feet different from year to year. Even some of the main channels can be pretty wicked sometimes. rock bars everywhere. underwater bluffs, etc it is weird to be cruising along at 35 mph in 800 feet of water and suddenly the depth guage goes to 15 feet for a bit then back to 400. I have bent up a few on that lake but not any of the others I boat on. I think alot has to do with knowing your waters and plain ol luck.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: How often do you damage a prop?

In 35 plus years of boating I lost one about year No. 2 (what seven year-old wouldn't want to take the prop off his Merc 7.5 for a look? what seven-year old would replace it properly? guess which seven year-old got a real surprise when he gave a good shot of reverse while docking....)

Things were then pretty quiet until about Year No. 25 when I destroyed prop, skeg, and cracked outdrive in Georgian Bay at the helm of my step-father's brand new Hinterhoeller Limestone 24. Gorgeous, big water utility-type boat -- some Ontario police marine units use them. Here she be for anyone not familiar with the type...

Anyway, in my defense, he gave me a heading far from shore in waters he knew well and I didn't, called for Warp 10, and we all got a huge shock as I put it into a shoal at max torque just coming up to plane. A very Georgian Bay experience. Ouch. I will never forget that sound or feeling as long as I live. $1500 damage give er take as I painfully recall. He was totally cool about it, blamed himself, and moved on. He has even let me back at the wheel many times since.

Last one was banged one pretty good in year 30 - Can't really remember details - but was careless.

Obviously I can't hold a candle to tashasdaddy's record!

Agree with what's been said. Learn the water, use charts and depthfinders, go slow if in doubt.