I've been looking around and can't really find a description of a spun prop hub that fit's me. I have a '68 Johnson 20hp SS pushing a 14' inflatable. I've been using a 9X9 prop, I do have a 9X10.5 too but it's got a chunk taken out of it, and last time out it started do something odd. I first noticed it while going through a canal(cut) with other much larger boats, the wake/chop in that narrow canal were pretty intense and my motor would rev a little high and we would seem to stop moving. After letting off the throttle a little the prop seemed to bite water again and push us forward. It was slowing us down enough that I had to pull all the way over to the wall to let the other boats get past me. At the time I figured that the heavy chop was causing the prop to surface a little. After the canal we motored around a little while watching the sunset. It was rapidly getting dark and I don't have lights, so I high tailed it back towards the canal to get to open water and my launch area.
On the way back I had the same issues, but instead of an engine rev, which it would do if I added power, it felt like we would stop being pushed by the prop and the bow would rise from the bow wave, then I could feel us getting pushed again by the prop. It would do that a lot. I was able to add some power and get going faster, but still had what felt like slipping. No loud clunks like I think I would hear/feel if there was a gear issue. It got bad enough once past the canal that I had to go along at trolling speeds to make any headway. I was hugging the shore because it was 1030 pm and I didn't want to attract the police with no lights, or get run over by someone else. Finally I was left with the option of swapping props for the bent 9X10.5 in the dark, or trying the only thing I could think of and that was put it in reverse and see what happens. I got good power in reverse, made a full circle with decent power then tried fwd again. This time I was able to make full throttle and get back to the dock pretty quick.
So do I have a spun prop, or a trim issue? I'm on the last peg of down tilt, and going up tilt seems to cause problems. I couldn't get on plane that day either from what I remember. When I felt a slip or the engine rev'd I looked down and the prop was well below the the water.. Last time I tried the 9X10.5 I couldn't get on plane either, but I'm sure I have a trim issue and that prop has a bent blade with a small chunk missing. I would draw a line on the hub and check it after a slip but it's a pain to set up the inflatable just to test for a bad prop, then deflate. I would like to get the prop fixed this week,providing it's bad.
I'm new, obviously..
Thanks.
On the way back I had the same issues, but instead of an engine rev, which it would do if I added power, it felt like we would stop being pushed by the prop and the bow would rise from the bow wave, then I could feel us getting pushed again by the prop. It would do that a lot. I was able to add some power and get going faster, but still had what felt like slipping. No loud clunks like I think I would hear/feel if there was a gear issue. It got bad enough once past the canal that I had to go along at trolling speeds to make any headway. I was hugging the shore because it was 1030 pm and I didn't want to attract the police with no lights, or get run over by someone else. Finally I was left with the option of swapping props for the bent 9X10.5 in the dark, or trying the only thing I could think of and that was put it in reverse and see what happens. I got good power in reverse, made a full circle with decent power then tried fwd again. This time I was able to make full throttle and get back to the dock pretty quick.
So do I have a spun prop, or a trim issue? I'm on the last peg of down tilt, and going up tilt seems to cause problems. I couldn't get on plane that day either from what I remember. When I felt a slip or the engine rev'd I looked down and the prop was well below the the water.. Last time I tried the 9X10.5 I couldn't get on plane either, but I'm sure I have a trim issue and that prop has a bent blade with a small chunk missing. I would draw a line on the hub and check it after a slip but it's a pain to set up the inflatable just to test for a bad prop, then deflate. I would like to get the prop fixed this week,providing it's bad.
I'm new, obviously..
Thanks.
