Stainless steel versus aluminum prop

[Maxum Boater]

Had a salesman tell me I should not be running a stainless steel prop on my 3.0 liter I/O with a Alpha 1 lower unit. Told me if I would hit something the aluminum prop would absorb the hit better than the stainless steel, which would result in less damage to the lower unit. I figure if I hit something hit enough to heavily damage an aluminum prop it will also hurt the lower unit. Anyone have any data as to which prop to run?

 

[DJ]

Re: Stainless steel versus aluminum prop

Maxum,<br /><br />Your salesman had a valid point. It's a risk you'll have to take. The SS prop will provide better performance, however if a prop. blade strikes something it's less likely to give. The AL blade will most likely shear off.<br /><br />If you're careful and don't run in areas were there are alot of underwater obstructions-I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Ross J]

Re: Stainless steel versus aluminum prop

The stainless steel prop will 'hold' it's shape better at high revs, which gives minimun difference in performance unless you're a racer I wouldn't bother. The aluminum prop has better 'give' and accepts better trash in the water, likewise the occasional hit on timber, weed, sand, and mabey rock. The stainless steel prop will hold and damage more of the lower unit. Some people swear by one or the other so the choise is yours.<br />Personally, I've run alloy since I had boats. I can't afford the expensive type anyhow!!<br />Ross

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: Stainless steel versus aluminum prop

Yea, this has been hashed out before on this forum. Maxum Boater, do a search and you should see more viewpoints.<br /><br />Respectfully to DJ and Ross, here is some of my earlier 2 cents worth from personal experience. The DE bay is very shallow (and very hard bottom) in some areas. I have hit bottom with stainless and aluminum, and never damaged the lower units with either. HOWEVER, I wiped out aluminum props, and only polished the stainless ones. Sometimes going slow, sometimes WOT (trying to skim a shoal at low tide and miss the mark).<br /><br />Also, the SS props have a rubber bushing, to prevent you from damaging the lower units. In fact, the guys that make the props will tell you the same thing, and also tell you that you probably get LESS lower unit damage with a SS prop if you hit something hard, because it will usually slice through it (because they are much heavier), instead of bending the blades of the alum prop and transferring the energy into the lower unit gears.<br /><br />Finally if you do any trolling with your big motor, you will not believe the difference that it makes by having a SS prop. Your boat will not vibrate from motor pulsations near as bad as it does with an alum prop, this is because the SS prop acts like a car flywheel and smooths it out.<br /><br />I have never heard of anyone switching their boat back to an aluminum prop, after using a SS one.<br /><br />This debate will go on forever though.<br /><br />My recommendation is you check your yellow pages and find a local prop shop. They will sell you a used (refurbished like new) SS prop for about the same (or sometimes less) price of a new alum one. They will also let you swap until you get the correct one for your boat, if you get the wrong pitch. and, if you want alum, they can help you out there too.