bent prop agian should i go to stainless steel

[greg hall]

have 2002 merc 75hp on my PT175 bent my stock aluminum prop again after buying a second one and repaing the first one,I was trimed up & idling in gear in shollows being very careful hit a object that I didnt see barly tapped it & still bent it , will a stainless prop be more durible or just keep spending $65 to repair & straighten my stock blackmax props.

 

[Don Wilhelm]

Greg, the problem here is transmitting the impact to the gearcase. A SS prop will impart more impact to the motor, which can prove even more costly. If you are having a re-curring problem with prop strike, you may want to consider a composite prop from Piranha. The blades can be replaced individually for around $17 each. The composite props will slip a bit more than SS props and are supposed to slip less than aluminum, so you may want to go down a notch or keep the same pitch. I run a 4 blade Piranha on my 180, and I like it so far. You can read my performance notes for more details. You can order from the site at www.piranhaprops.com, but I recommend you do a dealer search and find some one local so you can exchange the blades easier.

 

[Andrew Zuber]

Depends

1. How often do you think you're going to hit stuff.

2. Do you have the $300+ for the stainless.



I'm not too likely to hit stuff, but if I had $300+ just laying around, I'd buy the stainless...(they just look better anyway!) LOL



az

 

[Staci Matheis]

I don't think I'd consider a composite prop..... But I sure do agree with Don's assessment of not going to stainless if you're hitting stuff. Really! If you're hitting stuff now and spending big buxs on repair to the prop - think what you'd be spending if you had to replace prop shafts!



The conclusion: Stick with Aluminum.



me!

 

[Steve Rizza]

Greg--Stay with aluminum,if you have a problem with shallow rocky water,look in the BPS catalog at some kind of prop guard like Mac's river runner.



Just my $.02



Steve

 

[Greg Meyer]

Look into the Hustler two piece aluminum props... I run them on my boat and I fish walleye tourneys on the rivers... I go through 4 or 5 props a season... They are high performance... but low cost... and when you ding one up you just replace the wheel not the hub... about $60-70 much les than a repair...

 

[J B]

Looks like there are lots of different opinions. Personally I'll always own a stainless. I went through repairing aluminum props over and over on my last rig (60hp) and finally replaced it with stainless. Kept it 11 years and never had to repair the stainless once. Your decision may all depend on the types of water you fish. For me, I fished a lot of stumpy lakes and had to idle through stump fields a lot.

 

[Rick Hale]

Greg Meyer-- Look at the Hustler two piece aluminum props.

Looks good. --

Have you compared -- is there much differance in performance between stainless and the Hustler and stock aluminum props.

I'm looking for a SS for my 115hp 4stroke--but $300 for a SS prop is a hard sell.

Thanks HaleDamage

 

[Jack Long]

Greg, I have run stainless props on my seventy horse, back in 1972, and all my boats up to now, which is a merc 250XB, and I have never had aproblem with a bent shaft of lower unit problem. The stainless props have a rubber piece which will give in case of a hard blow that would cause damage to a lower unit. Sometimes you might spin a hub, which is when the rubbber breakes loose from the metal hub, but I would not worry about lower unit problems with a stainless steal prop. The stainless will last for ever if you take care of it and it will out preform an aluminum on hole shot and speed. If you can afford the stainless prop I don't think you would regret it. Good luck<>< <>< <>< <>< Jack

 

[TOMMY RICH]

O.K. Greg..here's my 2 cent. I'm runnin' a 2002 90 HP with a Quicksilver 21P. I love it...jumps on plane(which it did already but, slower) and I'm gettin'more top end with more trim range. The only drawback that I can see is you will get "clutch dog rattle" in the gearcase in the 90 and lower because of the added weight. All I do is keep it out of that range(which is usually below 800 RPM). From what I've heard it won't damage the gearcase...At least I've had mine for about 3 years and no issues so far.

The new aluminum props suck...from what I've researched Mercury is now using softer aluminum . I've banged my SS prop on wood that I would guarantee would bend a new prop and not a scratch on the SS. The first prop I replaced was after 3 months and hit a TWIG and bent one ear compltely over.

TEE

 

[J B]

TEE, I know what you mean. One time I just barely "nicked" a stump, hardly even felt it. Motor started vibrating all to heck because my aluminum prop blade was bent over. Same hit with stainless and no problems. Like Jack said, the rubber hub should protect against hard hits.

 

[Jim B]

The rubber Hub on a ss prop dosent always protect the gearcase. A few years ago i spacked a log on the CR. river in my old blad. I was going about 50+ when i hit the log. My gearcase was completey ruined, it stripped the gears and bent the shaft. Other then the bent shaft there was no visible damage. It was new lower unit time for me. If ou hit something hard with stainless it will be costly. If you hit stuff alot you may be better off with alum.