Can a prop "slip" and still be OK?

mogfisher

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
237
I have a 1442 G3 jonboat with an 83 mercury 18 horse. I have a 6 gallon tank, 2 group 29 batteries a bow mount minn kota and 2 200 lb guys. I just put a new OEM mercury 10 3/8 diameter 13 pitch prop. My question is if a prop slips on the hub due to an "event" is it junk or is it ok to run? Will in slip constantly after that? A couple of times I hit some pretty thick milfoil beds that would just make the motor rev up and not move very fast. I can only surmise that either the prop was slipping, or the milfoil was so wrapped around it that it was just a spinning ball of weeds that would not move any water. Also, last night I was having a ball going full speed across a lake and took a very sharp turn. After realizing that was a bad idea and straightening out I noticed the motor rev up and the boat lost a tad bit of speed. I slowed down and reaccellerated and whenever I would hit wot it seemed like the prop was slipping. Kinda like when the clutch slips in my VW. After dropping off my fishing partner at the launch I went for a quick zip alone and it seemed fine when I was alone. I've gone out about 4 times with this setup and except for the weeds and that sharp turn I have not experienced any issues with this prop/motor. What do you guys think is going on with my setup?
 

Bifflefan

Commander
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
2,933
Re: Can a prop "slip" and still be OK?

first i think you mean a spun prop. slip is when the prop looses traction in the water. so to speek. Spun in when the hub is spinning inside the prop.
As this is a new prop and the milfoil,, id say it was a big ball on the prop that was the problem.
when you did the turn i think you ventalated the prop. or got air aoround it and it lost grip.
 

slasmith1

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
1,028
Re: Can a prop "slip" and still be OK?

to check the hub put a mark on the prop and hub, take it out and run it and when you get done check the mark if the prop and hub mark is still aligned you are fine if the marks are no longer aligned you have a spun hub/prop.

any local prop shop can replace the hub if it is spun.
 

mogfisher

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
237
Re: Can a prop "slip" and still be OK?

Thanks for the quick responses. I guess I do mean spun. So once it spins once its done? I was thinking about the ventilation thing but didn't know if it should have corrected itself after straightening out and slowing down. would it be possible for it to continue to "ventilate" for a couple of minutes? It seemed like after I did that turn something was not right. Even my buddy turned around and asked what was wrong. At that point I had slowed down to below planing speed and sped back up. When I reached wot it seemed to lose power but gain RPM. But then after stopping at the launch it ran perfect when I was alone. I'll try the line on the hub. I was going to use some of the wifes nail polish for that.
 

fourwinnsnate

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 16, 2009
Messages
76
Re: Can a prop "slip" and still be OK?

If Your prop is actually spun i wouldn't use it for the primary but they do make a good spare My dad had a spun prop on his 97 2858 bayliner ceira 454 and we ran it for a week while we were out on the water because the boat wouldn't plain with our spare it worked ok but we definitely had to baby it, as far as throwing it out i believe you can get them repaired for alot cheaper than a new prop.
Weeds will also cause the same feeling as a "spun" prop but normally it is so covered with weeds u have to pull raise the leg and pull all the weeds off by hand to continue
 
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