I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

[bnicov]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Beating on your boat is going to get you a couple of things, one is things will end up breaking, costing you lots of dough ray me and two,you will become fast friends with the kids at the gas dock. Thankfully it was only a spun hub, you should keep a spare prop aboard at all times along with a spare prop nut, retainer and cotter pin.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Great news. Probably the cheapest of possibilities. Now letcs talk about the rocks.

I don't know your waters, but you need to. As you found out, props and the bottom don't mix well. Not trying to preach, but know your waters.

Sea ya...

 

[Restless22]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

He is suggesting an upgrade to SS. He says that on a heavy boat like this, that the performance increase will be great.

Is this true? I think I'm am 5100 lbs dry.

 

[theteacher]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Again, check Craigs List.

 

[jkust]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

See the downside of ss is that when you hit the rocks again, the prop will not give but the gears inside the outdrive will. I don't use SS props for that very reason plus I don't have enough hp to appreciate SS even if I wanted it. The aluminum prop for a beginner boater is a good safety net. Stick with aluminum until you get to know your boat and water.

 

[bgc]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

He is suggesting an upgrade to SS. He says that on a heavy boat like this, that the performance increase will be great.

Is this true? I think I'm am 5100 lbs dry.

Aluminum is the way to go. Learn the water on the cheap props, then go to the expensive ones. Get a new one and have the hub in your old one fixed.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

SS *might* give you a 1 or 2 knotts, but I wouldn't run a SS on that boat. Your propensity for hitting rocks is obviously up there when you are just starting out. You don't need to shell out $600 for a prop right now. I agree with finding one on CL or buying an aluminum if you're too nervous about bringing one into the shop.

Again, glad to hear it's just a spun prop...

 

[Restless22]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Found a nice used SS with correct pitch for 85. Need to test it with hub though.

 

[theteacher]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

My opinion, stay away from Stainless Steel props. if you aren't boating in deep water all the time. When / If you hit something with the prop *something* has to give. I would MUCH rather it be an easily replaceable / repairable prop, than the outdrive. Stainless Steel props just don't have the "give" of an aluminum prop. (Not worth the 1 or 2 MPH it *might* gain you.)

Bubba,
I'm fairly new too, so let me ask you. Are you saying that the SS prop doesn't have the rubber bushing it it, or whatever it is that "gives" when you hit something? Are you saying that if I hit a rock or hit bottom too hard that my outdrive will suffer damage and that the prop is "solid" or "stiff" unforgiving?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Bubba,
I'm fairly new too, so let me ask you. Are you saying that the SS prop doesn't have the rubber bushing it it, or whatever it is that "gives" when you hit something? Are you saying that if I hit a rock or hit bottom too hard that my outdrive will suffer damage and that the prop is "solid" or "stiff" unforgiving?

Yup. Think about what happens to an aluminum prop when you hit a rock - it folds up or chips. SS doesn't bend or chip very easy so all the force goes to the drive. Hub might slip if you are lucky

 

[jkust]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Yup. Think about what happens to an aluminum prop when you hit a rock - it folds up or chips. SS doesn't bend or chip very easy so all the force goes to the drive. Hub might slip if you are lucky

Modern hubs should give you some amount of extra leeway but it is what it is. The risk of outdrive damage is greater with a bottom strike and an ss prop. There's also no reason though that you can't swap props out if you want from SS to Alum. It takes all of 5 minutes.

 

[theteacher]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

I've got 2 SS props, no aluminum. I don't boat in shallow water, so I'll just leave my SS on it. Plus, I think my Bravo 1 is a little sturdier than an Alpha, correct?

 

[spdracr39]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

The best idea is don't run hard in unfamiliar waters. Stay off the rocks and both types will work fine.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Prop hub is spun. Just got the call.

aren't you glad you didn't take off wrenching on the outdrive?

Now, as you learned, the prop has a sacrificial bushing that gives when you hit something instead of the gears or prop blades. First tier protection.

I know that some rock-bottom boaters prefer aluminum props b/c they act like a second tier protection. I think you can easily chew up an aluminum prop before the bushig gives.

Since this forum is read by boaters all over, let me add that avoiding SS to save the outdrive, and using aluminum instead, is NOT the protocol on the coast over sand and mud bottoms, especially shallow water boaters. Just the opposite. We replace aluminum with SS from the start, b/c SS lasts longer and handles the bottom just fine. Better to spend $40 fixing a spun hub occasionally than replacing even an aluminum prop annually. Just saying.

 

[theteacher]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

aren't you glad you didn't take off wrenching on the outdrive?


Since this forum is read by boaters all over, let me add that avoiding SS to save the outdrive, and using aluminum instead, is NOT the protocol on the coast over sand and mud bottoms, especially shallow water boaters. Just the opposite. We replace aluminum with SS from the start, b/c SS lasts longer and handles the bottom just fine. Better to spend $40 fixing a spun hub occasionally than replacing even an aluminum prop annually. Just saying.

Woohoooo, thanks for that opinion, I'll buy THAT 1. I didn't want to give up my SS props and I can't believe they are any more dangerous to run than an aluminum. That's just MY uneducated opinion. I'm sure they BOTH have that "sacrificial bushing", so what does it matter if it's SS, right?

 

[bgc]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Woohoooo, thanks for that opinion, I'll buy THAT 1. I didn't want to give up my SS props and I can't believe they are any more dangerous to run than an aluminum. That's just MY uneducated opinion. I'm sure they BOTH have that "sacrificial bushing", so what does it matter if it's SS, right?

Both have rubber bushings, that took the place of the shear pins, to protect the drive train. Frankly I dont know how it gets started that and aluminum prop will protect the drive train better that steel. The bushing absorbs shock and will give when the load is great enough, be it steel or aluminum.
Nice props are expensive to have ground and balanced compared to replacing a cheap aluminum one. Personally, I like to put my money in fuel and maintenance vs gaining 1-2mph on the water.

Restless22, 85 BUCKS FOR A SS PROP!!!!! You need to play the lottery with the streak you've been on!

 

[Restless22]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

The 85 buck stainless is good to go. I just need to take it out. If I don't like it, I can return it, no questions asked, no charge for swapping it off either.

Also, to show my lack of boating knowledge, my old prop was stainless steel, just painted black. The mechanic suggested sending it out for a good reconditioning and I already have 2 good shops recommended that are nearby.

So, I'm out nothing as of now for my repair, except for $40 to service the outdrive.

I came out pretty good, I would say. Maybe the sun is shining after all.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

Hope your good fortune continues !!! Where there are happy boaters there are happy families to go with them !!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

If it weren't for the $85 prop I'd say just recon your old one. That's what you do occasionally or after damage. But for $85 you can't beat that to have a spare. if it runs OK I'd keep it, recon the other and swap them out.

I replaced the alum prop that came with my used boat b/c around here (shallow soft bottoms) you always run SS because it handles the bottom--not so much for performance (although some do it for that). A dealer was having a "yard sale" with NIB props for about $125. He let me test 6 of them until I got the right one (and another shop let me test 1).

Although you are set, others should look into getting refurbed SS props cheap from the local prop shop. We have at least 2 major prop shops here in town so the competition keeps them reasonable. It's cheaper to refurb a SS than to buy an aluminum. I guess every market is different.

BTW I have had a SS prop (on a club boat) sanded down to a different size from shallow water running. Aluminum would not have handled that.

BGC I agree with your assessment on the whole protection thing but not being a rock-bottom boater I have not weighed in.

 

[hnt]

Re: I'm Broke and Stuck!!!

I used to have a Sea Ray 25' Sorento with a Merc 260 (350ci) and alpha drive. I tested tons of props and found that the largest diameter aluminum prop that I could fit on the drive with the pitch that gave me the high end of the rpm range out performed all others including several SS props I tried.

SS on a boat like yours is a waste of money in my opinion plus aluminum it is safer for the drive if you hit anything again, cheaper to repair and some say less apt to cause corrosion issues.

Cheers