Repair or Replace?

[JSpann]

I bought this boat 10 days ago, haven't had it in the water yet. The prop is a 13" 21P on a 1997 Force 120. It's pretty chewed up. My question is, would it be practical to take it to a shop and have it dressed and balanced, or would I be better off to buy a new one?



This is the worst blade:



Thanks
John

 

[riptide09]

Re: Repair or Replace?

That prop is not to bad. Should be able to get it fixed with no issues other than it looks stainless and I don't know if they can fix them like they do aluminum ones. Price a new one and get a price to fix that one and then decide.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Repair or Replace?

Awww! That's not bad enough to send out. Use it as-is or fix it yourself: First take a hammer and using the end grain of a 2 X 4 as an anvil, straighten the edges as best as possible Then, simply dress the edges with a file or a Dremel and use it. Not bad enough to worry about balancing either.

If you do send it out, it will cost 90 bucks and the shop will not repair the edges. They will simply grind them down, changing the blade shape slightly. A waste of money in my opinion.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Repair or Replace?

You should do something; fix or replace.

A good shop can fix it up better than new, and that'll be cheaper than buying a new one. If you'll post up where you are (or send me a PM) I might be able to offer some suggestions. There are a handful of really good prop shops around the country, but just a handful.

I'm not sure why some seem to think that stainless can't be repaired (metal added, re-shaped, cupped properly, etc); it can, but you need the proper tools/training.

 

[JSpann]

Re: Repair or Replace?

I'm near Texarkana, TX, which is roughly 30 miles from the dead center of nowhere. That being the case, I believe I'll go with Frank's advice and try to gently massage the biggest ding out of it. It may wind up with worse dings than those if we don't get enough rain to raise the lake level.

Thanks for the advice!
John

 

[emilsr]

Re: Repair or Replace?

Steve's Custom Props is near Lake Fork; he does good work. That's the closest one I know of.

 

[JSpann]

Re: Repair or Replace?

That's about an 85 mile drive each way, so I'll probably pass on Steve's. Thanks for the info, though!

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Repair or Replace?

That's about an 85 mile drive each way, so I'll probably pass on Steve's. Thanks for the info, though!

You could??? mail it, Just a thought.

LK

 

[airshot]

Re: Repair or Replace?

If you repair it yourself and get it out of sync and balance....what do you think will happen at 5000 rpm? A new or properly repaired prop is far less expensive than another motor or lower unit at best. Your prop is your connection to the water to make your boat go, just like your tires on your car, want to just glue some patches on your tires then head out on the eway at 75 mph?

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: Repair or Replace?

Actually, your prop is not bad at all. The prop on the boat I bought last year was way worse than that with a chunk out of one of the blades. I ended up just buying another one from iboats.
I would just take a file and smooth the edges a bit. I would suspect you will not experience any vibration or other detrimental effect.

 

[JSpann]

Re: Repair or Replace?

I took it to the lake for the first time yesterday, and it ran fine as is. No noticeable vibration. I'll file some of the burrs off the edges in self-defense so I don't cut myself on it.