Prop. Advice

[El-Kabong]

Greatings Ifishers.

Took some damage to my propeller this weekend. Hit a big hunk of a burlap bag (?) that wrapped around the blades and lower unit. When I pulled off the material I found cracks in each blade (2 of the blades have 1/4 to 1/2 in cracks, and the other blade has a crack that runs 3/4 to 1 inch.

So hoping for suggestions as to who can repair props, or where is a good place to buy a prop.

Thinking stainless, but the price is scary. Should one stick with QuickSilver parts (it is a merc 60hp).

Any sugggestions would be appreciated.

Fished coon island and near warrior rock (tip of sauvies). Managed one little baby salmon who had a lot of spunk but not a lot of brains perhaps. as the bait was almost as big as he was.

Still a nice day to be on the water.

Thanks

EK

[Fish Hawg]

Yes stay with a merc prop. A friend bought a 24' MM with twin 200 mercs. MM put on some after market ss props because it was cheaper. The boat would cavitate all the time. so My friend got two props from merc( I think it was a grand) and now the boats hooks up and you can trim it up with out cavitation.....Ross

[Chrome Bumper]

Hit something with aluminum props, the prop breaks, hit it with stainless, the lower unit breaks. Three blade aluminum works good, esp. with a mid size motor. Ding it and there is no boo-hoo. If you want high performance get something better. Tweaking the prop make a big handling, mileage diff. E-bay has them, but be careful, I have got great deals and crummy ones there.

[ 03-15-2004, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: Chrome Bumper ]

[garyk]

Independant Marine Propeller, located beneath and slightly upstream of the St.Johns bridge (east end, diagonally across from the former Columbia Sportswear headquarters) should be able to fix you up for ~$55 depending on how severe the damage is.

Think of the soft aluminum props as 'sacrificial' - they absorb the impact thus sparing your motor's drivetrain.

[YaHoeeFishOn]

ampro and sheilfield are the prop repair guys in portland. Michigan wheel is bit cheaper replacement, But I've always run Mercury marine props. Most stainless props still have rubber hubs inside them, Only real high performance cleaver or cupped SS props are solid hub. For a 60 hp outboard I'd buy a new quicksilver to run and have your repaired prop in boat as a backup.

[Freakwater]

What YHFO said.

[WaterDog]

I had a SS prop on my last boat. If I ever have a prop again I’ll do the same. The performance difference is very noticeable. Better speed, better mileage, better hole shot. I bought an aftermarket prop (Michigan Wheel) out of cablea’s since they were half the price of the local dealers selling the same thing and had no problems whatsoever. As in any of this stuff, there are compromises.

Good luck.

[Fish Hawg]

We just got rid of two michigan wheel props, They did not work as good as a ss Yamaha prop. Same pitch and dia. ......Ross

[Herring Impaired]

My Michigan wheel SS prop had a "Slip Hub" designed to prevent damage in the event of a strike.
Lucky for me I never got to find out if it worked before I sold that boat and got a Squirt Boat.

[lost_sailor]

Oregon Outboard Salvage has a bunch of used props.

[fishingfirst]

Try Stevens Marine in Tigard, I got a used prop from them after I destroyed mine last year. 90hp merc, got the used prop for about 1/3 less than new, and I can't tell the difference, other than it says "used" written in grease pencil.

Good luck,
Scott