Spare prop - % carrying one?

[Spidybot]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

My original alu is carried as spare since I got the stainless.<br /><br />Philosophy is 'better have one you don't need than the other way around'.<br /><br />You could set up a poll here with a series of questions to get a picture.

 

[Old Jarhead]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

Never carried a spare until I spun a prop years ago on a lake a couple miles from the ramp. I was able to make it back (slowly) but it did ruin a good fishing day!!<br /><br />The second prop I carry now, on both my boats, is a different pitch to accommodate different loads and uses. Killing two bird with one stone so to speak...

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I think the question is, why not carry a spare? Unless, of course you have a kicker to get you home. But still...

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

My 15 HP Johnson kicker will push my Starcraft Islander about 10 MPH or so. I also keep a composite prop stored in the cuddy as a spare, along with a prop wrench. I always carry my Leatherman so the Cotter pin will be no prob either. 3 spare cotter pins in the cuddy, taped to the spare prop so a not to lose them.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I do lots of fishing in the fall and winter. One very cold late-November day I was running home from the inlet(about 7 miles away), and the prop hub spun. There was no reason for this to occur, that I could determine. We quickly anchored up so as not to blow out of the channel and put on the spare wheel. We got a bit wet during the prop change, but were underway in less than 20 minutes. Made it home in sunlight. I do not know the availability of a tow boat that time of year, it certainly would not have been timely. We would have been out there under tow in the dark and cold for several hours. I recommend carrying a spare if you venture more than a couple of miles from home.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I carry lifejackets, flares, fire extinguisher and yes and extra prop. I would find it silly not to. Got a spare tire in your car? <br /><br />Good luck with your study!!!

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

115hp Johnson – spare prop, nut, pin. Don’t leave home without ‘em.<br /><br />According to Murphy’s Law, just by having them with me I am assured I will never need them…and I never have..so far….

 

[bidlimit]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

Gotta have it....

 

[OBJ]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I agree with 18rabbit....spare prop and all the fixens. Why not carry one? Takes up little room.....welllllll....OK....so you may have to leave a beer or two on land....and just knowing it's there is a little piece of mind. I boat the Ohio river 99% of the time. I'm gonna have to take some pic's of some of the lower units that come in.....UGLY! Even in lakes, there could be that stray log floating around with your name on it. Just makes good sense to carry one. And whut if ya' spin a hub? Whatcha gonna do then?? Coast home? And you don't neccessarily have to hit something to spin one either.

 

[gpolson]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

Thanks to all who replied to my questions about spare propellers. As mentioned, I was trying to sketch the "dance" of how propellers and spare propellers flow through the system (begin life as a new prop, get repaired, move to being a spare, etc.). I eventually constructed a flowchart of the "dance" some might find interesting. It is at:<br /><br /> http://www.virtualpet.com/otcc/rigging/props/lifenn.pdf <br /><br />Thanks again for your assistance

 

[dmonwai]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I have a spare prop but don't carry it in the boat. I do have a kicker that would get me back. I don't think I could change the prop on my main while on the water, its too far to reach it. I had a piece of rope tangle around my kicker prop once while trolling and I was barely able to reach it to cut it off. If my knife blade was any shorter I probably would not have got it off.<br /><br />The water is way too cold around here to get in to change a prop. In the summer its around 45 degrees. Last weekend when I was out it was 37 degrees.

 

[rwise]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I carry a spare prop, and have used it (spun hub). I picked it up for $12 at a flee market. No commercial tow in where I fish, it would be 3 days before CG came looking (been there but all was fine, the fish were bitting). Picked up another spare used at a prop shop for $45. Also tools, plugs, spare prop for trolling moter, and other minor repair parts.

 

[lund17]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

On the advice of the good people here at IBoats I purchased a second prop. I can switch if I want to prop for skiing or fishing and I always have a spare. It has been well worth it. My original prop went to the shop twice this summer. While fishing in the Hudson river I struck something in twenty feet of water that chewed it pretty good 10 mile downriver of home. Didn't even break a sweat knowing I could re-prop and go on. I have since convinced two of my boating friends to carry a spare at all times. I figure if I insist on fishing unknown and flowing water prop repair is the cost of doing business but being stranded,towed or hurt shouldn' have to be.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I bring a new prop of the right size with me on vacation but it's not in the boat. I keep a prop in the boat too, but it is a used beat up one that I was testing the setup with and is a pitch size too small, but will work in a pinch. Oh, and the tools to change it too.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I carry a spare prop, spare plugs, belts, and all the tools too.

 

[redmopar]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I carry my original AL prop as a spare, an extra nut, thrust washer, cotter pin, snorkel gear, and the necessary tools. I also carry spare plugs, extra fuel, fresh water, food, seatow membership, spare anchor, spare primer bulb and fuel line(had em crack before), and a radio. Looks funny on a bassboat, but a frequent the FL flats and if i have a problem in some of the areas in there there is a good chance I am on my own.

 

[Aloe68]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I have a spare anchor on board (had to cut one loose) and general tools. I never thought about spinning a hub though! Anyway after reading this post I will be restocking my emergency supplies!

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

On the 21', I keep a spare prop, and have a couple of old prop lock nuts for it too.<br /><br />I'm a fresh water lake boater, so I can run it up on the beach to change one with a spun hub, or knocked off ear. I also keep a extra nut or two in case I drop the fresh one I keep on the shaft. For the wrench, I just have a extra socket welded to a bar with a line on it. <br /><br />I get clumsy in cold water, and make sure I can find/retrive or have a spare for everything in case I drop something in waist deep water where I'd be working on the prop.<br /><br />For the hydro- It is a solid Stainless Steel Chopper, (no rubber hub)so I carry no spare or anything to change it with. I figure if I ding or wreck it bad enough not to run or 'get back on', the engine will probably have been ripped off the back of the boat anyway.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

At least 2 in the boat, some cases 3.<br />Always a couple more in the truck....too many props to test, too little time.

 

[lawyertob]

Re: Spare prop - % carrying one?

I have a Propulse composite and two extra blades for it. If I eat off all four of the originals, then I can put on the two spares to get home. And if the hub of the Propulse is trashed, then I have at least one or two spare aluminums in the boat. With floating wrench, socket and bar (just in case) and nuts, washers, and pins. Boils down to the old "rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" rule.<br /><br />Answering the dance question, the two aluminums came with the boat. The spare has less dings than the one that came on the motor. I bought the Propulse because it sounds like a good prop and I got a good deal on eBay. Now, I just have to put the boat back together so I can try it out. <br /><br />Just my $0.02 worth,<br />Joe