Prop on or off during winter ?

[gapple12]

In the process of winterizing, I removed my prop to clean and re-lube the prop shaft. At my boat storage place I have seen a few guys leaving there props off during winter. Is this bad since the shaft can rust ? Should we be leaving them off ? I wouldn't mind leaving it off since its always possible it could get stolen.

thanks...

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

If it could be stollen, just leave prop shaft well greased and covered, if not, with well greased shaft put prop back, tight nut.-

Happy Boating

 

[robert graham]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

Prop shaft is stainless steel, so no rust....but folks can steal your prop right off the motor, so maybe just take your prop home with you for the winter.....just to be on the safe side...

 

[gapple12]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

Thanks guys, I think i will just coat it real well with greese and then put a plastic bag over it with a rubber band. Would rather keep my prop at home.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

it won't rust so no extra grease is needed and the plastic bag won't so much for ya....
pull the prop, protect the splines with a length of rubber hose, and put the nut back on to protect the threads.

in the spring, clean all grease off along with whatever dirt and grit has settled in it, re-grease, and put the prop back on.

 

[drewactual]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

grease it.. bag it so grease doesn't get on everything that touches it, which for some reason always ends up on the hull finish somehow..

the rubber hose notion is a good one, to protect the splines, but something that hits them that is hard enough to harm the splines isn't going to pay much attention to a rubber hose 'protecting' it...

stainless steel won't stain- it won't rust as readily as other metals, but it will absolutely rust if given the opportunity- so don't give it the opportunity ...

edited to add: down and dirty explanation

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

drewactual...I have to ask, so whats keeping the s/s shaft from corroding/rusting when the drive is in the water?

Never seen s/s rust sitten outside. There are many grades of s/s....some low carbon content and some high carbon content. Ever seen a magnet stick to s/s......low grade s/s yes....high grade s/s no...it will stick to your s/s frige door.

I work with alot of s/s pipe and the only way i ever see it have rust on it is.....When someone uses a carbon steel brush or a sanding/flapper wheel that is contaminated with carbon to clean the weld or pipe.
Another common proplem is when someone is grinding carbon steel by stainless and the hot sparks embed themselves on the stainless and it causes the outside of the pipe to rust when exposed to the elements.

The only time high grade s/s will rust is when it gets contaminated by iron oxides.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

The stainless steel prop shaft is pretty darn corrosion resistant, even in salt water.....and all prop shaft splines are greased when prop is installed, so very little, if any, water even gets on it....don't worry about that prop shaft corroding....plenty of other legitimate things to think about.....

 

[drewactual]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

for the chemical reaction that corrodes stainless to happen, it needs free o2 it doesn't get as much of from water- dunk it, and as it dries on a trailer is where any issues with s/s will surface.. and, it's not that big a deal if handled correctly- I rinse the crap out of my rig with fresh water from the hose when I yank it out of the ocean (every time I use it), and not just the out drive, but everywhere.. hell, I even use silicone spray on the engine and wiring harnesses both in the engine compartment and behind the dash...

for what it's worth, though, I didn't even know the shaft was stainless until I read this thread..

 

[Bondo]

Re: Prop on or off during winter ?

for the chemical reaction that corrodes stainless to happen, it needs free o2 it doesn't get as much of from water- dunk it, and as it dries on a trailer is where any issues with s/s will surface.. and, it's not that big a deal if handled correctly- I rinse the crap out of my rig with fresh water from the hose when I yank it out of the ocean (every time I use it), and not just the out drive, but everywhere.. hell, I even use silicone spray on the engine and wiring harnesses both in the engine compartment and behind the dash...

for what it's worth, though, I didn't even know the shaft was stainless until I read this thread..

Ayuh,.... I agree with that to a point,.... It's the Grease on the prop shaft that keeps O2 away from it,.....

Same reasonin' goes into my Greasin' all the electrical connections,....

It don't matter whether the prop stays on the shaft over-winter,....
So long as the prop comes off, Atleast Once a year to Slather the prop shaft with Grease,....