will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

[chefg1124]

Hi. I am trying to deterime rpm at WOT but I am hesitant to go WOT because the prop is slightly bent. Can anyone look at the pics included and tell me if I have an issue? I honastly don't know if its considered bent or just bruised. Thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

welcome to iboats

I would get the prop repaired. since you did not update your location in your profile, we would be hard pressed to know where to recommend.

 

[chefg1124]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

Thanks for the reply. I live in west Babylon, new York. I want to go out this weekend and have been using her this way thus far. I may just get a replacement and then test rpm and speed. Is this considered very bent? Am I an danger of ruining anything I go out his weekend? I know the correct answer is to just replace or get it fixed but from the looks of it how severe is it bent? Thanks for the advise and help.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

Its a fairly severe bend. Won't hurt anything but will not give you any good information. Take two hammers. Hold the heavy one on one side and tap gently with the other to pound the bent part closer to original. There is a chance you could break the aluminum though, do at your own risk. Warming the AL with a propane torch wouldn't hurt.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

a bent prop is an unballanced prop. that puts all sorts of forces into the bearings that over time can do some damage. the one bend is severe and will flex the one blade different than the others. the higher the RPM, the faster any damage would occur.

as George mentioned, try to straighten it with a pair of hammers, or a hammer and a small vice to go out this weekend. however if it was my boat, I would still be looking for either getting it repaired or replaced. no sense trying to determine your WOT with a bent prop.

 

[smitty477]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

"I live in west Babylon, new York."

Bozzler & Sweezy is a great prop shop on Long Island.
Hope this helps

 

[chefg1124]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

Thank you all for the quick replies. I as looking this morning and found Bozzler & Sweezy so now that i know they are good maybe i will give them a call. I might attempt to staighten it out before i use it this weekend but if i can find a used not bent one for $50 bucks i might as well just swap it out. I dont want to buy a brand new one just to find out I need a differnt pitch for my application. Trying not to waste money but more importantly want to make sure i dont do any costly damage. Thanks for all the help! its much apreciated.

 

[truckermatt]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

Well My spare prop looks like yours, It came with the boat and I have only used it twice, (when i hit bottom twice) anyways, We only used it the go slowly back to the docks,

My regular use one was like brand new, expect until we hit a ski handle in the water and it chipped 2 of the blades. so it's either fix it for $65 ir buy a new one for $110, so we bought a new one.

Just so you know I have seen some pretty rough props people are running. but the people are tools also.

 

[chefg1124]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

I spent the $100 and got a brand new one. I couldn't have my weekend ruined obsessing about whether or not its OK. I plan to have the old one fixed and use as a spare.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: will i damange tbe lower end running with a slightly bent prop?

That was the best decision