December 07, 2009

Time for a New Prop?

In the first segment of my propeller series I provided some tips on maintenance. Now in the second installment, we are going to look at different types of prop damage and I’ll give my opinion on whether or not they are signaling that its time for a new prop.

1. The internal hub is blown out. This is usually is caused by hard shifting between forward and reverse or by continually applying a heavy throttle. The operator will notice that the speed has maxed out, but RPMs keep increasing. In this instance it’s time for a new prop.
2. The blades are chewed up. This was likely caused by hitting rocks or hitting the bottom over time. The general indicators for this type of damage are vibrations that can be felt while running along with hindered performance and in this scenario a new prop is recommended.
3. Paint is missing near the hub. In this case your prop is fine to continue using. It is possible for paint to come off in this general area of an aluminum prop due to normal flexing.
4. A hairline crack is present. There is no one cause of a hairline crack that can be easily pinpointed. Most times the operator will notice a drop in performance and eventually the prop will fail all together. It is recommended that once a decrease in performance is noticed, the prop be examined and if a hairline is found, it be replaced.
5. Paint is missing on the edge of the blades. If a boat is beached frequently, sand will cause wear around edges of an aluminum prop. Lack of paint in this instance is nothing to worry about and the prop can continue to be used. However, I recommend keeping an eye on it to be sure that only light rubbing is taking place.

Posted by ribcraftusa at December 7, 2009 02:52 PM

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