Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

[Moulin6801]

Hey guys, with my little guys in the boat and jumping from the back, swimming back etc, I am starting to worry about the Prop.
I already have a metal Hydrofoil in there that has some sharp cornes. I need to get ready of it and get one of the hard plastic ones, Stingray type, I think.
However, I just learned about the Prop Guards. They are pretty expensive too, from $150-$180 and I am leaning towards it, since it gives an all around protection from propeller.
So, does anyone here has one? What are your thoughts on it??
How about the Stingray Hydrofoil ?
Thanks
David

 

[ingalp01]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

I had a Stingray hydrofoil on an 18 ft fish n ski that was powered by a 150 Mercury outboard. I liked the way it jumped out of the water on the holeshot, but I don't think it will provide much protection, other than being made of plastic vs. the metal one you currently have.

 

[the vision]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

I have the Stingray on my boat. It's not for a gaurd for the kids, it's to keep the bow down. And it works great took it off one day and put it back on as soon as I hit the drive. As for the prop gaurd I can't help on that one, sorry.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

Your best protection for a prop is EDUCATION! You as the captain control this to keep the kids away from the prop at all times, it's not a step. If you need a step, get one. Make the young'ns aware of the danger back there! Never run the boat with anyone in the water near the transom.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

The only guard that is effective is teaching the kids that they NEVER except for NEVER jump off of the boat unless you tell them it is OK. And you NEVER tell them it is OK unless the motor is off and the boat is stopped.

If the prop is not turning, it is not dangerous.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

If the prop is not turning, it is not dangerous.

You may want to re-think that philosophy.

I saw a kid almost lose a leg once when he cut his thigh to the bone jumping on a prop that wasn't turning. A group of paramedics at the beach on a crawfish boil got a tourniquet on it and called a medi-vac helicopter in to pick him up. He was lucky they were there.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

I personally never let kids play on the boat... It is a vehicle and not a playground..... If the want to run, jump, and play they do it on the beach.... If they want to swim they jump in when and how I tell them and they stay in the water until they are done swimming... Then they climb in with supervision... hose off at the transom and come on in.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

Your kids should not be jumping from the boat, it is dangerous for many reasons. I have an acquaintance who broke his neck doing exactly that. He did not get well.

No, I would not put a stupid red guard on my engine. I would also not let kids or other persons I am responsible for jump from my boat while playing grab tail and horsing around.

JR

 

[southkogs]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

I do allow jumping off the bow of my boat. I've got a tri-hull that's heavy and very steady in the water. I've got rules for jumping (ask first, check water conditions, jump at an angle to the bow, blah, blah, blah ... yes dad), and the kids follow them (and all of them are pretty solid swimmers). I anchor off the stern and the kids know to mind the drive and the anchor line, even when swimming back to the swim platform to get back in. I wouldn't recommend jumping off the bow in most V-hulls because of how precarious the bow can be to stand on, but mine has a pretty reasonable area to stand on with an actual step (and the bow doesn't sit too high off the water either).

That said, you have to know the limits and privileges with your boat, establish rules and make sure they are followed. No amount of gear can replace a good cap'n/dad instructing his kids. That drive unit won't bite any more than a cleat on the gunwale will (and I've seen some sweet cuts from those babies too). Best to asses the risk that is present, and make your rules accordingly. Makes for better dad/kid relationships anyway ...

I'd say "it's $180 bucks cheaper too," but I'm pretty sure my son will cost me at least that at some point.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

My God, the world would be a horrible place if my kids could not play on and jump off the boat, on the water, not the land.
On my old Grew I have a Stingray on the sterndrive and it does not protect you from the prop, much. It does make an excellent step for the kids climbing back in to the boat.
An extended swim platform would be better than a prop guard for what you wish. For myself, I bought an inboard because it was much more fun to play around and the prop is several feet away from feet.
The single biggest reason that I own a boat for is to have my kids play and enjoy the water with their parents.

That said, I agree with dockwrecker on much that he said. Everyone needs to be aware and not everyone gets to buy an inboard.

 

[edu01jose]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

You could get a plastic propeller also.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

Uuummmmm, I think a plastic propeller spinning would be no safer, I think it would slice & dice a foot or leg just as good as a metal one. BTW: Never heard of a plastic propeller anyway. The only kid's on my boat would be my 15 year old son & 1 or 2 of his buddies &/or my 3 year old daughter, who would not be in the water anyway & being tended to by my wife. I make damn sure that the buddies know the rules BEFORE we get into the boat. So far everyone has been very good with my rules, describing what could happen if they come in contact with a spinning prop (my explaination), hit's home with them. Just my .02 on the subject.

 

[2000fourwinns]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

I agree with rallyart about the extended swim platform. We did not have one until this boat and it is the best option I think you could have on a boat with kids. I think jumping off the boat and swimming around is part of the fun. You just have to teach everyone involved in the Do's and Dont's. I can not say enough about an extended swim platform.

 

[Stamey]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

I agree that education is the most important part here. Unless the kids cannot physically access the prop in any way you can't be completely safe. Even if you had the prop guard on there the kids, if uneducated, would likely use it as a step and the first time one slips, or unknowingly sticks their foot into the guard with the prop, not on top of the guard, you are going to have an injured kid. Same thing with the whale tail. All it takes is one slip.

I have seen the plastic props, and while they may have some advantages, they have to be rigid enough to not bend as they are propelling water, and sharp enough to cut the water like a metal prop, so I don't see any gain as far as less injury to a person.

Chris

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

The prop guard you show is actually interesting in that they are purported to increase propeller efficiency as well as provide some protection. One drawback is I only see them available for outboards.

I don't really agree that anyone would use the prop guard as a step. The captivation plate is above the prop it would extremely unlikely anyone would put their foot on it as a step. Yes it would not provide complete protection, but it would help.

 

[Christylyn01]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

David, I currently have a Prop Guard on my boat and have had for several years. It does increase handling and maneuverability considerably as the manufacturer says it does. Steering radius is cut in half. Been able to avoid hitting objects in the water a lot more with it on due to the improved handling. As far as safety, I am a whole lot more comfortable knowing it's on there. It's my opinion that it really does prevent propeller injuries. No one has ever attempted to use it as a "step" as someone mentioned above. You can make all the rules you want regarding propeller avoidance. However, kids are kids and accidents happen every day. Even when the rules are strictly followed, accidents still happen. There was a little guy last summer that was thrown out of the boat when his dad hit something and the child was badly injured from the prop. I also remember hearing about an child who was killed in a junior life guard training program somewhere in California last summer. The boat was captained by a very seasoned and experienced retired military captain and the child was under the supervision of the life guard instructors and it STILL happened. That kind of tragedy can be prevented when there is a guard on the prop. Period. I don't think the price is out of line at all. Mine has been on my boat for about 4 years and I have yet to replace it. Besides, there is no price I can put on the safety of my kids or others in the water. I'd gladly pay twice what I paid to know they're protected. I don't want anyone on my boat getting sliced and that's why I have it on there. I have heard some negativity about them....folks saying they would decrease speed, etc. I have not had that problem at all. In fact, I get better gas mileage with no loss of speed. We tried a few other guards before we found Prop Guard. We had problems with them along the lines of reduced speed, etc. I'm sure it's something to do with the design as the one's we used previously were more of a cage-type guard and before they were even installed my thought was that there was no way we weren't going to have drag using them. I'm no engineer, but the Prop Guard seems to allow for smooth flow of the water thru the guard and it doesn't cause that drag we felt before. I have a stern drive, so the guard does work for both stern drive and outboard. Hope my experience with it helps you out! Chris

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Propeller Guard , does anyone uses one??? How about Prop Guard vs Hydrofoil??

Uuummmmm, I think a plastic propeller spinning would be no safer, I think it would slice & dice a foot or leg just as good as a metal one.

The worst accident I've ever had on a boat was from a plastic boarding ladder. It was on a pontoon, and was one of those ladders that hang over the top fence. This ladder was OLD, and should have been thrown years ago. (plastic gets brittle...) Anyway, you can see where this is headed. When I put my weight on the rung that was out of the water, it shattered and the shards sticking out shredded my leg as I fell down. At the time I didn't realize how bad it was, but I did have another problem now, getting back on to the pontoon! Managed to pull my self up, and then proceeded to bleed, A LOT!

(and in case anyone is wondering, it wasn't actually TOO bad. Some really nice scars..)