OK, So I am "Old School", but . . .

[Searush]

A comment on this thread has got me thinking.

An o/b powered inflatable (no details of size of it or engine) went to the assitance of kids blown off shore in an inflatable & the prop lost a blade or two after they touched bottom. Result 2 casualties rather than one.

OK, poo happens as they say, but my (admittedly tiny) o/b has a shear pin & split pin so that even hitting a rock (yes I have done it) and includes spares in a special rubber block results in only a short delay while you fix it. My old Seagull featherweight has a spring mounted prop so it will generally bounce off the rocks.

You guys rely on your engines - you are unlikely to have oars or sails to help out - what safety devices do you have - is it just "carry a spare engine?"

 

[jhr]

I am no expert (on this, or anything else) but my impression is that incidents where the prop completely comes off a full-on mobo are very rare. There's usually a lot of grunt behind the prop and what tends to happen is that whatever it hits gets eroded somewhat and the prop gets mangled. The upshot of this is a very slow run home, with the prop making all sorts of graunching noises. Unfortunate and undignified, but it has the advantage of giving you plenty of time to re-negotiate your mortgage as a preface to getting a new prop.

I'm afraid my safety device is "Seastart"...

 

[shmoo]

You know, I would never have guessed in a million years...

 

[DAKA]

A comment on this thread has got me thinking.

An o/b powered inflatable (no details of size of it or engine) went to the assitance of kids blown off shore in an inflatable & the prop lost a blade or two after they touched bottom. Result 2 casualties rather than one.

OK, poo happens as they say,

You guys rely on your engines - you are unlikely to have oars or sails to help out - what safety devices do you have - is it just "carry a spare engine?"

I think you have just about hit the nail on the head with your observation and it is one of the reasons why some mobos react so badly when a small sailing boat trys to push a mobo out of a deep water channel or even off his track around rocks/sand banks.

Many mobos have twin installations which cost a lot more and use more fuel but in the hope that at least one prop will keep turning.

 

[jimg]

Not sure if we are talking about o/b's or shaft driven boats, but I have seen a few shaft driven boats after hitting a rock and it is not a pretty sight!
If you are lucky and it is a "graze" then you might get away with a bent prop and P bracket.
Anyrhing more and the prop and P bracket end up making a hole in the bottom of the boat.
"carry a spare engine?" is the lifeboat then...

 

[GrowingLad]

Carry a 5 HP ob. Thankfully we don't really have a tide out here so it will push me along at 4.5 knots. I use it when launching and recovering a) to keep it running from time to time and b) damn site cheaper to replace the prop on that than the main one....even if I could find a prop to fit a VP 100 leg with the right pitch.