Spare prop - % carrying one?

[gpolson]

I am investigating the use of spare / emergency / backup propellers. Any guesses at the percentage of outboard boats over 50 HP that normally carry a spare prop in your area? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Thank You

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I don't know what % carry a spare prop, but I'd bet it's at least 50% where I boat. I know I do...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

Most of the boaters I know, have a spare prop, but don't carry it on the boat. Well maybe if they are going out on big water. Even then, most don't have it onboard.<br /><br />I don't carry mine on the small lakes ( under 5000 acres?). But then, I have a kicker motor.<br /><br />This would be a great poll question to have all the boaters answer at the launch on Memorial weekend.

 

[kcole683]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I carry one all the time but it is on the kicker motor.<br />I would suggest everyone carry a spare.<br />If I had an outboard I would have one on board for sure but my I/O is a little hard to reach when on the water (not that hanging over the back of an outboard is much better).<br /><br />If there was a poll I would guess well over half carry a spare.

 

[bossee]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

Hi,<br />I have a Yamaha F115 4-stroke with a Yamaha black steel propeller. I always have a spare prop in my boat but not an expensive steel prop, instead a cheaper Yamaha aluminium prop. I have also tools with me in the boat so I can change prop if needed, like if I hit some rock or similar with the prop (who knows when...).<br /><br />An alternative spare prop that fits many outboards can be a Propulse prop:<br /> http://www.propulse.se/english/index.html

 

[DJ]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I have NEVER broken/bent a prop in 30+ years of boating. However, I always had a spare. What does that tell you?

 

[neumanns]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I do not carry one currently however a few more dings in this one and it will be reassigned to the backup position.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I do not carry one. Ever.<br /><br />I carry two. Always.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I carry an extra prop....and the tool to change it too!

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I now carry two extra props. One is in the boat and one is in the truck. Of course I have the tools to

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

Got one, always

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I do carry one on my personal boat. In the Grand Canyon we carry 5 extra props per boat. You're guaranteed to use at least 1 or 2 per trip. 280 miles, 150 rapids, and about a Gazillion rocks!<br />

 

[JB]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I don't think the question is relevant to whether you should carry one or not, GPolson.<br /><br />I think anyone who operates in waters that present risk of striking bottom or rocks and doesn't have a reliable kicker of sufficient power to get home in worst conditions should have a spare prop aboard and be practiced in changing the prop on the water.<br /><br />Different conditions on different water could reduce the urgency of this "rule", but I can see no case in which having a spare prop aboard is not a good idea.<br /><br />What percentage of boaters plan ahead for safety and what percentage don't might be interesting, but shouldn't guide your decision.

 

[gpolson]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

A big Amen to what you said JB. My purpose in asking was in trying to get a better understanding of the life cycle of outboard propellers. The propeller market is pretty complicated with some props being sold for use on the drive now and others sold for use as a spare (often the very same propeller). There are many ways props come in and out of the system, or go to the scrap heap. Several props move from being a spare to being a full time prop, while others move from being the full time prop to being a spare. I am working on trying to sketch this "dance" done by propellers. The percent of boats carring a spare is a part of the dance. Yes, the sketch is already pretty messy, but maybe not as complicated as you might think.<br /> <br />Thank all of you very much for your input and please continue to post your comments here. They have been very helpful and will continue to be so. To any considering not carrying a spare prop, please read JB's comments.<br /><br />Thanks Again!

 

[sloopy]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

FYI, I carry an extra one and a back up for the back up (which is usually a very dinged up one). I would advise everyone to hop in the water one day and try changing it. It is different from doing it on land. Every time I do it I get several bruises on my arms and legs, try doing it 3 foot swells. ALways have the emergency propeller PRE ROPED UP! if you don't do this you will loose it in the water, and if you keep the spare in your boat without ropes already installed on the blades (I use a hangman's knot on two of the blades) you will be to nervous to put them on before hopping in.<br /><br />I carry extra sails too!

 

[BrianTindall]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

When I had twins I didn't carry a spare, with two engines why? Now that the 120s are gone and a single 225 is in their place, you can but your bottom dollar there will be a spare (cheapy aluminum) on the boat! Since when I run offshore it's for a shark run, getting in the water to change a prop is not a wise decision! So hanging over the motor is the only way.

 

[gpolson]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

A few people (elsewhere) have mentioned unlimited tow insurance as an alternative to a spare prop. Anybody here think like that? Do you think tow insurance is hurting the spare prop business?<br /><br />Thanks again to all of you for your comments, they have provided some interesting insights into the prop industry and variables/situations surrounding trying to install a prop in the water.

 

[BrianTindall]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

This may not be a direct answer to the insurance question (yes I have insurance), but how about this: Clear skies, fishing is great, your engine is running just fine. Now you turn to the weather channel just for kicks and they say a large thunderstorm is approaching from the west and moving east at 40mph (east coast for me). So you keep an eye on the sky and soon those dark clouds appear. Being 30 miles offshore you turn and head for home. As you push the throttle up the engine revs like crazy! Dang a spun hub! Now the hub is spun enough that forward movement is not possible. In 10 minutes you can be heading for shelter with the spare prop on or you can be waiting for a commercial guy to come 30 miles out and tow you 30 miles back with a bad storm approaching. Spare prop, $150 or so, insurance, $100 give or take, I know what I would do. I have never spun a hub or ripped a blade, but if it happens I want to be able to get home. Props are cheap, lives are not.

 

[airman]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I always have a kicker on board and enough oil to turn half of the main engine's gas into 2-stroke mix. I don't bother with towing insurance. In every case that I've had to "tow" myself home, I got there faster by myself than a towing company could have done it, unless they happened to be right there when I broke down. I've also used it to keep me off of shoals, which even a spare prop would have been too slow for. A kicker is a spare prop AND engine and I see very few substitutes that are as quick and reliable, except twins. I do have a spare prop, but I often don't bring it.

 

[gpolson]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

Where do spare props generally come from, meaning if you have a spare prop, did yours come with the boat, did you retire the main prop to spare when you upgraded to stainless, did you retire a prop to spare when you dinged it, did you buy a prop specifically for use as a spare, did you get one from a friend, etc.? <br /><br />Any thoughts about the origin percentages of spare props? (Maybe something like 20 percent came new with the boat, 30 percent were previously a main prop and got slightly dinged, 20 percent were removed from main duty after and upgrade, 10 percent were kept from a previous boat, 20 percent came from a friend, etc?). I just made those numbers up as an example. Just trying to figure out how they enter into the system. <br /><br />Any comments would be appreciated.