Ss vs alum prop

[emptypocket]

I HAVE SEEN A TON OF STUFF ON THE WEB ON PROS AND CONS OF BOTH.. I AM NEW TO BOATING I HAVE A 91 SUNRAY 17FT SUNSTAR. W/ A 3.0 MERC.... BOAT WEIGHTS 1800 LBS GIVE OR TAKE. THATS WHAT I FOUND ONLINE ..SEEMS HEAVY TO ME? I JUST WANT OTHER OPIONS FROM YOU PROS WHO HAVE BEEN BOATING FOR YEARS. I BOAT ON LAKE MICHIGAN. AND LAKE SHAFER HERE IN INDIANA, I DO A LOT OF TUBING WITH THE FAMILY. SLUM PROPS GIVE MORE WHEN U HIT SOMETHING IN THE WATER. SS PROPS ARE STRONG ADN DON'T GIVE SO MORE THINGS CAN BREAK IN THE LOWER UNIT.. IS THIS THE #1 THING I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.. OR IS THERE OTHER THINGS... I WOULD LIKE TO RUN AT LEAST 40 MPH. BUT NOT SURE OF HOW TO GET THERE. I SEEN THE PITCH X RPM IS TO WHAT OR DEPENDS ON SPEED... ANY INSIGHT WOULD HELP THANK YOU ALL..

 

[dingbat]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

SLUM PROPS GIVE MORE WHEN U HIT SOMETHING IN THE WATER. SS PROPS ARE STRONG ADN DON'T GIVE SO MORE THINGS CAN BREAK IN THE LOWER UNIT.. IS THIS THE #1 THING I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT..

Pretty much an old wive's tale. Stainless, like alum props, have a rubber "coupling" between the prop and the hub to absorb shock.

The downside is the cost to repair a SS prop if indeed you do damage one.

 

[xeddog]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

I spoke to two of the repair shops in my area, one I don't know very well, and the other I have been to often and trust. They both say that while it is true that the rubber hub in the props "should" protect your outdrive, they still see a lot more damaged drives with SS props coming in for repair from prop strikes. Sometimes the rubber hub just doesn't fail "fast enough" to prevent drive damage. They both strongly recommend NOT using SS in this area due to the amount of debris here.

Wayne

 

[RicMic]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

It depends on what you are likely to hit. Aluminum props do give easier which can be easier on the lower unit at the sacrifice of the prop. Aluminum will bend easily on mud sand and even small sticks like the ones beavers leave floating will take a chunk out them. Stainless is a lot stronger so won't give way as easy on really hard stuff, like rocks, pilings etc., but it also won't be damaged by mud, sticks etc.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

Can't belive I'm saying this but if you're new to boating, stay with aluminum until you gain the sixth sense of shallow water....even this doesn't work all the time.
I'm a strong believer in SS props and mud, sand and most sticks/twigs won't bother them. I have not seen nor do I believe that more lower unit damage comes in for repair due to using an SS prop because only about 20% of the props in use are SS. And, if you hit something hard enough or square, it won't matter which material you have.

 

[roncoop75]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

Knowing that walleyhead is pretty much an expert on this, I'm kind of surprised at his opinion. Got a 4 blade alum. Amita delivered to my house yesterday. I pulled my well worn stainless off the boat (I think it's an original Laser, ver. I not II). I'm AMAZED at the weight difference! I could also see, on a totally laymans scale, how much weaker it would seem to be in a prop strike. Intuitively, you'd think it would give up before the rubber hub, let alone the parts in the gear casing. But... maybe not. Some things that seem obvious, just aren't!

 

[Hacker]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

This is great dialog. I have been looking to get two new props, one for pulling and one for flying across the water. I will get the speed prop in stainless, but based on this thread, I think an aluminum 4 blade will be the way to go for me on the pulling prop. It has been ingrainned in my head that SS is the way to go, but the cost of an aluminum is just too good for a backup prop. I just wish my stock SS prop was not so 'generic'.

______________________________
G3 HP190 + Yammy F115

 

[sethjon]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

I HAVE SEEN A TON OF STUFF ON THE WEB ON PROS AND CONS OF BOTH.. I AM NEW TO BOATING I HAVE A 91 SUNRAY 17FT SUNSTAR. W/ A 3.0 MERC.... BOAT WEIGHTS 1800 LBS GIVE OR TAKE. THATS WHAT I FOUND ONLINE ..SEEMS HEAVY TO ME? I JUST WANT OTHER OPIONS FROM YOU PROS WHO HAVE BEEN BOATING FOR YEARS. I BOAT ON LAKE MICHIGAN. AND LAKE SHAFER HERE IN INDIANA, I DO A LOT OF TUBING WITH THE FAMILY. SLUM PROPS GIVE MORE WHEN U HIT SOMETHING IN THE WATER. SS PROPS ARE STRONG ADN DON'T GIVE SO MORE THINGS CAN BREAK IN THE LOWER UNIT.. IS THIS THE #1 THING I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.. OR IS THERE OTHER THINGS... I WOULD LIKE TO RUN AT LEAST 40 MPH. BUT NOT SURE OF HOW TO GET THERE. I SEEN THE PITCH X RPM IS TO WHAT OR DEPENDS ON SPEED... ANY INSIGHT WOULD HELP THANK YOU ALL..

You are right about the comparison of SS vs Al. A small boat like yours would be better with AL. Depending on what you want you need to select 3 or 4 blade. As far as running 40 MPH, what does it do now? If its close to 40 then go to a 4 blade and go up 1 or 2" on pitch.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

Might find this interesting

http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/showthread.php?t=298430

 

[JimS123]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

SS wins hands down. They can be double cupped with thin blades and designed to get the best performance (speed and economy) out of your engine. Just need to have the right one. SS props are made by a number of companies that are light years ahead in engineering design. Alum props are old school.

SS will withstand small dings in sand and mud where your alum will need repair. If you have a major hit, your drive shaft is toast no matter what prop you have.

I used to have a prop repair about every 5 years. My SS hasn't needed repair in 26.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

Might find this interesting

http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/showthread.php?t=298430

Anyone that may have looked at this post with pics......if you will notice, the blades are all bent AFT at the tips....an indication the power was OFF when contact was made (remember slip ratio) if the prop hit under power, the tips (99% of the time) fold FWD due to slip. In this case, alum would have no blades left and this SS is beyond repair.


26yrs on the same prop??? I'd bet money if you had a new one to test-same make/model-you'd see lower rpm and better handling unless you've been in tap-water with no sediment that would wear your cup.

 

[Fisher3491]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

I've been thinking about going to stainless on my boat. Many different opinions out here. I found this article and after reading it and a few posts on here I think I'm gonna go for it.

http://www.boatbanter.net/engines/making-the-move-to-stainless-steel/

Is it true that I will need a different pitch with SS?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Ss vs alum prop

Depends on the model you are changing TO in SS, and FROM in alum. Some brands are much different than others...