Opinion on rebuilt props?

[JTRUSH]

There is a marine shop near me which said they will send off and refurbish a used prop for $75
Is that a smart way to go?
What do they actually do to fix the chips and dents?
good or bad?

 

[hwsiii]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

Is it aluminum or stainless. if it is aluminum I would just buy another one as everybody doesn't do the same quality work on repairs, and aluminum props are cheap on Iboats.


H

 

[JTRUSH]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

Im not sure which metal it is. it appears to be the factory, black in color

 

[hwsiii]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

If it appears very heavy when you hold it, it is stainless steel and if it feels light it is aluminum.


H

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

When I first got my current boat, I had 2 aluminum props. I would run one while the other one was getting fixed from getting dinged on something like a small stick. I fixed one at least 3 times a season. At the time, it was 50 bucks a repair. I finally wised up and bought a stainless prop. I've been running it 10 years. It still looks like new.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

Big chunks missing are rewelded to the blade and are perfectly serviceable but more easily damaged a second time. Depending upon the shop, but it seems common practice, stainless or aluminum, small dings will be ground out, changing the shape and area of the blade. Hell! I can do that refurbish at home for nothing.

At any rate, this is not acceptable to me and I would rather pay three times the repair charge for a new prop. Ultimately, you pays yer money, you takes yer choice.

 

[JTRUSH]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

So you all would say just go with a new stainless?

 

[hwsiii]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

JT, that is what I would do.


H

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

I agree. Go stainles and give up the recurring aluminum woes.

Years ago, it cost me a $35 repair each time I went on a stump-filled lake locally. Getting a stainless prop was the best decision made 15 years ago.

Another story. On our maiden fishing trip with second boat that had aluminum prop, I bump a log where there previously was not a log. Viola, bent lobes. I got a stainless immediately after that.

Look around. If you want to avoid upwards of $500 or more for a stainless, search Craigslits or Google key words. After searching Craigslist nationwide, Googling found one in my own town.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

There is a marine shop near me which said they will send off and refurbish a used prop for $75
Is that a smart way to go?
What do they actually do to fix the chips and dents?
good or bad?

$75 is a little too high of a price, but I understand that local markets can dictate those things.
It can be a very smart way to go, if you keep damaging props on a regular basis.
They weld in new metal to replace the missing pieces, and they hammer them back into shape. Any shop that just grinds off the nicks, is no prop shop at all!
Good if done right, waste of money of done half arsed.

Alright, you probably have an aluminum prop, since it's painted black. If you boat in an area with just minor rocks, or sand or mud, you could probably switch to a stainless steel prop, hit the same things, and not hurt the prop at all. If you have a very rocky bottom or a lot of tree stumps, and you hit them, then you are gonna damage your stainless prop too. At which point, it will be much better to repair it, than spend over $300 replacing it every time. the choice is yours. Good luck.

 

[JTRUSH]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

Sold! ill start looking around today after work.
Thank you all for the help!

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Opinion on rebuilt props?

The only caveat I would add to some of the posts above is that if you hit a lot of things, it is probably cheaper to keep chewing up props than to trash your lower unit...

Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a refurbished stainless prop that's been worked on by a prop shop with a good reputation. It isn't uncommon for such props to be as good or sometimes better than as from the factory. If you don't know the prop shop or trust the seller, it's a crap shoot.