Stainless or Nibral prop?

[jsz]

I bought a 2002 21V last year and it has a stainless 4 blade on it. The owner also gave me a good Nibral 4 blade prop. The boat runs fine with the stainless so I've been keeping the Nibral on board in case I bang the other one. Would I be better off running with the Nibral and keeping the stainless as a spare? Is there enough difference to even bother switching?

[Tige M.D.]

your going to find that the boat is much smoother and quieter when using the nibral prop. the stainless is too rigid when it comes to a boat as solid as the tige. the stringer system in your boat is so strong it will amplify any vibration the prop has in it. i'd keep the s/s as a spare and run the nibral.

[Tequilasun]

along this line:

I want to get a spare for our 05 22v, anyone know a good place to pic one up. I have heard that Acme is the best prop, but wonder if anyone knows of a good discount place. BTW I want a stainless spare.

[Tige M.D.]

contact acme direct. just know this, do your home work, make sure you know what you need for your boat. shaft diameter, pitch, prop diameter, and rotation. all this your dealer knows but that is why it's not cheap at the dealers. knowledge is the key. one more thing be sure you buy a puller and the tools needed to change the prop, shaft and strut. usually if the prop is damaged enough to where you don't want to use it, you've done more than bang up the prop. if the strut, propshaft or rudder are bent you can cause alot more damage.

[flackpack]

I always have a spare prop on board. I feel this is a way to avoid ever needing it.

I went to Tige MD when I bought the boat, asked what size prop for my boat I would need. I then found a new SS prop on E bay. I spent about $100.00 including shipping from a Florida dealer who was going out of business. I believe in Nibral, and will only use the SS prop as a spare. Greg (Tige MD) is right about running the Nibral instead!

I then bought an OJ prop puller kit with prop case from Discount inboard marine (http://www.skidim.com/) to hold the prop. It is only peace of mind, but it is nice to have!

[raythompson]

Have you ever tried changing a prop while it is underwater? Especially when you cannot reach the prop without going under the boat (breathing becomes an issue).

I would not attempt to change a prop on a stern drive where the prop can come close to the surface. When parts drop gravity alwasy wins and tends to make the parts go to the bottom of the lake.

Keep a spare to change at home if needed. But I would not carry a spare in the boat as the likelyhood of successfully changing the prop in the water are slim. Even if you did change the prop, there may be other damage that you cannot see that will get worse when you operate the boat with your changed prop.

If I hit something hard enough to bork a prop I would cease all operation until the entire drive system can be inspected.

I would also not use a stainless steel prop. I would much rather have a prop with metal that is softer than the metal used in the drive system. Better to bork a prop than transmissions and drive shafts.

Stainless is supposed to have better performance as it is stiffer than aluminum or brass. But that comes at a price. I don't want a $300.00 prop being protected by a $2000.00 transmission.

[joe8395]

A in water prop change now that takes some balls....I still cringe when thinking about the one time I had to go under the boat to get the rope unwrapped from the prop.

[Matt Garcia]

Has anyone hear done an in water prop change? I have never heard of that before.



Brad, check your PMs.

[raythompson]

Yes, I have done a prop change on a stern drive boat while it was in the water. However, I was not in the middle of the lake but had the boat beached. It was on a friends boat and he lost a major chunk of blade on an aluminum prop. I was able to stand in the water and the prop was easy to reach as the stern drive was raised. So perhaps this does not qualify as "in water change."

I would never attempt to do this in the middle of a lake. Something will drop, usually a critical part, or your wrench.

[Tequilasun]

I have the same OJ kit.

I have changed one "on the water". We nursed the 03 home after that. I was very surprised that there was not any other damage.

Changing on the water requires a couple of things, patience, a person to hand stuff to, and something to clip parts with. I used a see-doo kill swich line. I tied the key part to my board shorts and clipped the required parts to the other end. Didn't drop anything, but the certainly was nervous. Didn't help that the Brother in law was in the boat giving me the "aren't you done yet" look!!


It is very nerve racking. BTW we had a Nibril on and a Nibril spare, I was just looking for another option w/the stainless for the 05.

Thanks guys

[joe8395]

Wow....I would have just grabbed my oar and started in on a nice shoulder/arm workout to get back to the launch ramp. I guess the lakes must be bigger in MO.

[smendez]

Last prop I changed in my 2003 22v was difficult enough in my driveway. There's no way I will ever venture to change one in the water.

Once in Table Rock, MO I had to unwrap a ski rope off the prop shaft. That took several diving trips under the boat to get it done. I hid the keys to make sure NO ONE would turn the ignition, but I just kept thinking someone is going to want to turn the stereo while I'm under there, make a mistake and end up chopping my arm off!

We're a lot more careful now.

[talltigeguy]

After thinking about it a while, I decided I needed a spare prop. My dealer hooked me up with an old nibral one he had.

I also would avoid changing in the water if I could. I could easily remove the swim step and then I think it wouldn't be too bad. I mostly plan to change it on the trailer on the ramp if I have to.

[jsz]

Thanks for all the info. I don't have a prop puller. I usually like doing all this stuff myself but I heard props can be a pain. I figured if I ever needed to pull out the spare prop I would just take it to a local shop and have them do it. Then they could check for any other damage. Of course the bad part (besides the bill) would be having the boat in the shop for who knows how long while on vacation.

[SummerObsession]

Originally posted by flackpack
I always have a spare prop on board. I feel this is a way to avoid ever needing it.

That is my theory EXACTLY!!
Come from the old drag racing days, I guess.

Here is a little different question.

Where we boat, we have TONS of trees in the lake. With the lake level fluctuation we have, there is a constant threat of hitting a submerged tree at any time. It happens all the time.
I was thinking of switching my prop to a stainless for the extra strength, but I was concerned that although the prop might not bend as easy, I would probably do MORE damage as mentioned above to transmission, shaft, etc.

I should probably just buy a spare nibral prop, or an e-bay prop to use until I can fix the original one.

What about fins and rudders? I thought someone made them in stainless? Would that be a good inveestment?
I'm thinking strong fins could help "slice up" the tree before hitting the prop and rudder.

Any thoughts?