Re: prop damage
i was just reading at "ask a marine tech" (or somthing like that) that even little dings and ever so slightly bent edges can have a drastic reduction in speed,hole shot, cornering and things like that.. they were saying 20% in some cases... im assuming the info. was correct. actually i still have the tab open =) this was copy n pasted from that site...
How should I maintain and service my propeller?
Essential to good propeller maintenance is periodic inspection to detect even small dings, which can lead to blade failure if not dressed or repaired. A damaged propeller, even one that only appears slightly damaged by running through silt and sand, can significantly reduce performance efficiency and fuel economy, and can more severely damage itself through cavitation erosion emanating from the blades? irregular leading edges (Figure 7-40). In one test with a damaged propeller, top speed fell more than 13%. Acceleration was off over 37%. Optimum cruise miles slowed 21%. Worse yet, damage usually is not done to each blade uniformly and, therefore, the damage can set up imbalance vibrations that can cause fatigue damage to other parts of the engine or drive. If you boat in shallow or rocky waters, you will want to check your propeller more frequently for possible damage.
