V-P Duoprop Spare

[four winns 214]

I have a Volvo-Penta Duoprop drive with stainless props. What are the options for carrying a spare prop system? Thankfully I've not needed one on the water, but I carry a complete spare prop (and associated parts) for the Alpha 1 on my Sea Ray cuddy and would like to do the same for the V-P.

 

[steelespike]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

I'm sure no VP expert but as near as I can tell you would have to have 2 spare props as the props are left and right rotation
and I think different for the position on the shaft.
Thinking logically if you were going to carry a single spare the lead prop would seem to be the one that would likely receive the most damage in a strike.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

You could go on ebay and purchase just the front prop. I dont know what year yours is, but before I converted to single prop, I went on ebay and I could buy a front or rear prop for around $200. If you hit something I am sure one propeller would get you home.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

And by the way, not just any volvo penta duo prop setup will work. On my DP-A, only B and C series props would work for me.

 

[agallant80]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

So I went from an Alpha to a B3. I was hell bent on having an extra prop set. then I looked in to what it involved in changing the props with the dual setup, and thought about how it would be very difficult in the water, and i thought about how the aluminuim props on my A1 would be damaged from anything touching them and the stainless will take a tonne of abuse and I thought about how there is no hub on DP setups and if you hit something hard enough to really damage the prop you are going to damage the drive and then I gave up on the idea of having an extra prop. If I take out my prop I am going to more than likely take out the drive and I don't really want to jump in the water and change it so Ill just call seatow or limp back to the dock.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

So I went from an Alpha to a B3. I was hell bent on having an extra prop set. then I looked in to what it involved in changing the props with the dual setup, and thought about how it would be very difficult in the water, and i thought about how the aluminuim props on my A1 would be damaged from anything touching them and the stainless will take a tonne of abuse and I thought about how there is no hub on DP setups and if you hit something hard enough to really damage the prop you are going to damage the drive and then I gave up on the idea of having an extra prop. If I take out my prop I am going to more than likely take out the drive and I don't really want to jump in the water and change it so Ill just call seatow or limp back to the dock.

I actually thought along these same lines. It was then, that I decided duo wasnt for me on a 22' boat. I have since swapped out the DP-A lower for a 280 lower, ordered a 4 bladed stainless and am happy as pigs in poopie. I am rather pleased with the performance, I thought going from duo to single was going to make it a dog out of the hole but not one bit.
Alot cheaper to recover from any impact with a single prop.

 

[agallant80]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

I think the dock manners and grip of a DP is great, the cost to fix the drive or prop is not. When I bought my boat I was looking at two boats. A 25 foot bayliner cruiser with a DP setup or a 25foot Stingray with a single prop. I am glad I got the DP but that just me. I will cry the first time it gets damaged.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

Agreed. If I had even 2 more feet of boat, I wouldn't have gone single.

 

[doyall]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

I have a Volvo-Penta Duoprop drive with stainless props. What are the options for carrying a spare prop system? ...

If your SS prop is an "F" series, you can use a "D" series aluminum or an "X" series composite. If all you need is an emergency prop then the composite is very lightweight and relatively cheap if you shop around. Only problem is you need a different special wrench to install the front unit.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: V-P Duoprop Spare

If your SS prop is an "F" series, you can use a "D" series aluminum or an "X" series composite. If all you need is an emergency prop then the composite is very lightweight and relatively cheap if you shop around. Only problem is you need a different special wrench to install the front unit.

Thanks everybody. Just the info I was looking for. I'll look for a D or X series and get the wrench. A non-stainless option would also be nice to have- just in case- if I'm in a situation where there is an elevated risk to the props.