stainless steel props

[glmuse]

Does anyone have any opinions on the pros and cons of a stainless steel -v- aluminum propeller.

Geraldine

 

[jfm]

vote for aluminium

On a normal outboard I would always use aluminium. Miles cheaper so no problem if you bust it, less damage risk to gearbox if you do hit something, and less likely to get nicked. OK the performance is worse, but only marginally. Just imho.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

I am fairly agnostic on props. SS are more expensive - but do perform better, and I know it sounds naff, but they look wicked!

If you are replacing your prop, try "Steel Developments" in London. I bought an alley SOLAS prop for my old Merc 90 once. Talk about new lease of life!. Pulled harder and went faster - noticeably on both counts. Keen on price too.

Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[Guest]

I am new to boating and have researched the same idea of changing, although I am talking about a 6.13mtr boat, don't know what you are on about. From enquiries I have made I was warned that a SS props if they hit something would / could cause major damage to your gearbox, due to the fact that they are hard and do not give way. an ally one however would break absorbing the impact. The pro's on my boat were minimum, slightly smoother feel, a minimum amount of extra speed, and the cost of them. All this is my opinions from what I have heard and I am willing to hear any more views as well. I am just s..t scared that I run aground and bugger up my brand new boat for little benefit. I even looked at the possibility of fitting a prop guard, but I was told that would slow me down even more than I would gain, plus the cost, there again I won't be having divers or people close to the props anyway I hope. Sorry nothing more to say but you might as well benefit from my little bit of research.

 

[glmuse]

We are considering replacing an aluminium prop with a SS prop on our Falcon 23SPC 150hp Mercruiser Diesel with Bravo 2 leg, because we keep hitting the bottom in our marina and continually damaging the aluminium prop with small knicks. We have heard from several sources that a SS prop because its stronger doesnt give and damages the gear box. Is there anyone who has hit something with a SS prop and who thinks it damaged the gearbox, or is it an old wives tale - as I think the fact that the props have a rubber inner would absorb any immediate shock.

Cliff

Geraldine

 

[ballena]

I would not have anything but SS

I used to own a 20ft searay with 5.0LX, I fitted the correct pitch SS prop and gained 10mph, better acceleration and smoother running.

The blades can be thinner section because SS is stronger, this improves the performance through the water.

If you are running a displacement/semi-displacement boat, don't waste your money.

As for gearbox damage, I think that this is an old wives tale as most pleasure craft props have the same rubber shock absorber in them as the ali ones. Obviously the blades are stronger so initial impact damage could increase from the reverse loading

The answer is be careful in shallow water

Regards


PS I got my prop from Keypart for about £250, excellent value

V8's rule!

 

[pistonbroke]

Grumpy 1, surely your boat should come with S/S props as standard, are you sure you haven't been ripped off.

 

[DavidJ]

As I understand Volvo had a problem with distortion of their Al props which caused the coating to come off with the higher powered KAD 44's and especially the KAD300. They advised boat builders to fit SS some did like Sealine and some didn't.
There were some threads some time ago on this topic which led some folk with new boats fitted with Al to get back to the builders.
David

 

[Guest]

Err, I don't think so. I know the price of US boats over here are sickenly (is that a word) overpriced, but the poor dealers have to pay the shipping and VAT. What is annoying and like rubbing salt in a wound is that the Glastron dealers in the US are not only selling their boats at $ to the £ prices, but offering a winter special of up to another $6,000 off (would bve about $1,000 off mine). Of course over here they don't or at best say they don't do that deal. I bought the show boat as it was in stock so although it has had thousands of people tramping all over it, it is here and ready to be delivered. As for the SS prop as standard, I wish /forums/images/icons/smile.gif. Saw the price of them at the LBS, would still consider one and keep the alloy as a spare if people are convinced they are good, but bear in mind the driver /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif. Think I have a lot more to think about than bashing the prop at the moment, keeping in a straight line must come first, understang all those boys and lights, whilst reading the GPS, looking at the compass, and ensuring my daughter doesn't jump overboard. I'm knackered just thinking about it, and it's meant to be relaxing!!!

 

[Guest]

Grumpy, why don't you just relax and get your feet wet? While it's good to be prepared, the way you're going on here, you'll frighten yourself out of boating before April...

Do the background stuff, make sure you know the rules of the road, and try and go out with someone who knows the area. Having been boating for 12 years, I think I'm right in saying you do not need an armed escort, a permanent rescue helicopter on standby or a team of paramedics following you in a 20 footer. From what I've read, your biggest danger will be sinking under the weight of the safety gear you're planning to carry...

If you know where you're boating, you won't hit the bottom, and the whole debate about s/s probs shredding gearboxes is academic.

Having said that, I did once get a lump of driftwood caught between prop and cav plate on the open sea in 12 foot of water. That sheared the main prop shaft, and would have done so with a stainless prop or an ally one. So if it's going to happen, then it probably will anyway.

 

[Guest]

Graham,

The problem I have is that I will be using the boat in the river medway, as I am mooring at Chatham. This river is very shallow and loads of peole go aground, so I have heard. I have been thoroughly studying all the charts for the river and the North Kent Coast in readiness for my first voyage, I have a garmin 176C but am waiting for the new Atlantic Blue chart update due March before activating the maps. I have a Garmin e-map as back up and a further older Garmin 45 and EPIRB in the emergency grab waterproof cannister for evacuation purposes. I am doing my VHF DSC course on Sunday, but only have a submersible handheld, do you think I should get a DSC radio to link to the 176? I think from what I have seen if I sink, it will only be in mud /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif have not checked the equipment required for prevention of sinking in mud yet /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

 

[oldgit]

Re:You are.

NOT going to
A..........sink
B..........run aground
C break down
DHave to retrieve any family members from the briny(cold/tepid or otherwise)


You will
A have loads of fun
B be very skint.
C Wonder how soon you will be able to summon up the courage tell the wife that a bigger boat is absolutely vital for your continued enjoyment of life in general./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

Oooh look its still not dark and its nearly 5pm<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by oldgit on 11/02/2003 20:30 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[DepSol]

My father in law just sold his Falcon 23 SPC and was going to get stainless props, you will notice a world of difference quicker up on the plane better speed more economy, go for it they are really good for mincing up plastic bags.

Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me

 

[BarryH]

Grumps can I give you a bit of advice......sell it, and the leccy bits the safety gear and the virgin trailer. Take up golf, your a bloody Jonah in disguise! Less of the doom and gloom. Why will you sink, why always look for the down side of things. Your gonna scare the wife shitless with all this 'sinking' feeling. LIGHTEN UP. Yes you need to have the safety stuff on board but erm......don't go over board.

First trip. Do it on a high water so theres less chance to go aground. Some of those shallow bits you can see on your chart will have water over them, they show LAT, lowest astronomical tide. You've got to add the hight of the tide to the depths shown on the charts. Potter up and down within sight of your base, get used to the boat. Don't take the wife or if you do get a baby sitter to look after the little one. Take some one with you who knows what they're doing. Dont let them take the helm all the time, just let them be there as a confidence booster and just to show where you 'might ' go wrong. You cast of, you helm/drive the thing, you moor up. Use them as a sort of deck hand. Forget the leccy stuff, walk first.

Above all enjoy it! Sorry mate just had to say it.

 

[Guest]

Re:You are.

I have full confidence in you and I realise we will not sink, I am very grateful for your offer of helping me out, but WHAT when you have gone and I am out there on my own with bloody great tankers hooting at me, glad I have got 3 fog horn cannisters and 20 white collison flares, plus all the others red smoke e.t.c. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I have booked my wife on the sea survival course next Saturday and a 5 day first aid at sea course, so no problems there /forums/images/icons/wink.gif I am sure she will enjoy it /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

 

[spannerman]

I have tried all sorts of SS props first a Laser on an old Mercury 150 it was like having a brand new boat and engine, amazing difference in performance. Then brand new Yamaha 135 followed by new Yamahe 225 on a 22ft offshore race boat, the Laser outperformed the original Yam SS prop which gave too much stern lift. Blew away the neighbours Ring 20 with a tuned Merc 200 and distinct weight advantage, so much so he took it to the well known boat specialist in Taunton and said I don't want it back till it beats my boat!
Then put a High 5 SS on a 5.0 LX and have a a cruiser which handles like a ski boat, after people have tried my boat they ask me to sort them out with a SS prop, and so far no one has been disappionted. Won't have an ali prop even as a spare. And yes I have hit the bottom a couple of times and there was slight damage on the blades which I hammered out and filed and there was no problem with the gearbox. And working for Mercruiser I can confirm that their SS pprops have a plastic insert designed to break under impact to save the shaft and g.box.
They are not for all motor\boat combinations, but if you have a performance planing boat and lots of horsepower they give better acceleration, handling, top speed, and better fuel economy, one of those rare free lunches!

 

[Guest]

Someone told me that a SS prop can cause your anodes to go quicker, I won't say anything else as I don't know what I'm talking about with regards to this, but I guess there is hopefuly someone on here that can explain the technical stuff.

 

[Guest]

Hi, I have (or should I say will be getting) a Volvo penta 4.3GL 190hp, does that have that bush in it to absorb the bashing it's hopefuly never going to get? As I said I am still willing to listen, and perhaps ige it a shot.

Cheers

 

[DepSol]

yes your anodes will go quicker and you will need to double up on the transom anode


Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me

 

[Guest]

I would need to be careful with the rumoured problems (which have been discussed in another thread, and argued as untrue) in Chatham Marina then /forums/images/icons/wink.gif