prop for my 9.5 evinrude?

[alumadude]

I have a '73 Evinrude 9.5. The prop is in good condition. My prop(part #385940)is made of some sort of composite(plastic)material.
I've been looking for a spare prop and think I've found one at a good price. It's the same size as mine 8 1/8 x 8. It's aluminum. part#383315.

Is there a reason Evinrude went to the composite prop?

Is there any difference other than plastic vs aluminum?

Can I use the aluminum prop I've mentioned and would it perform differently?

 

[TN-25]

Re: prop for my 9.5 evinrude?

They went with the Lexan plastic prop for a number of years on the smaller outboards, but the 9? was the largest motor to get it. The 4 & 6 got them from the factory, but as for the 9? I am a little doubtful that it was manufactured with that prop; I mean the pitch & diameter are stock but I think aluminum was factory. I can't remember offhand when they switched to the plastic prop on the 9? but it may have been once the 9? dropped from production at the conclusion of the 1973 run, all subsequent replacements were made of Lexan plastic, and carried part # 385940. I think it was around 1972 for the 6-horse motors that the plastic props were factory issue (8x7?x2).

Dad owned a 1965 Johnson 9?. After damaging the original aluminum prop he could only get the plastic prop as a replacement around the mid-1970s. They worked fine on the little motors but on a 9? they were probably less than ideal for running fast. By the late-1970s OMC started offering the aluminum props again for all replacements on the 9?, and dropped the plastic ones. Dad eventually switched to a new replacement aluminum prop after the plastic one got damaged and no more plastic ones were available.

Incidentally, the prop for the 9? is also the same one used on the 10-horse from 1958 through 1963.

 

[dropbear68]

Re: prop for my 9.5 evinrude?

Think I have a alloy prop for a 9.5 in the shed somewhere, I had a stripped outboard laying around for years thinking the prop still exists, have a head/water jacket thats never been in salt water and is immaculate

 

[alumadude]

Re: prop for my 9.5 evinrude?

Thanks for the response.
As I said, I'd been looking for a spare. Lots of beat up props out there. This one was nice. Supposedly unused.
Unfortunately, it wasn't $10.50.
Might give it a little paint. We've plenty of time before we can run our boats instead of our cars on the lakes around here.