Although you won't bend a prop shaft most of the times, will bend prop blades, need to be straighten at a prop shop. If not, excessive vibration of the prop shaft will end screwing shaft's seals, bearings..
I hit a rock with my VP DP290. Broke one blade off the front prop, folded a blade off the rear prop and sheared the hub. All while in a storm. No damage to prop shaft.
Must have busted 20 some aluminum props and never had an issue with the shaft
However my sister hit a rock with a stainless prop and bent the prop shaft about a half inch. After i fixed it with a new shaft, she hit another rock and sheared the shaft. Luckily she was shallow enough to retrieve the prop and push the boat in. I think i replaced the prop shaft 4 times and the lower twice for her
I bought a 125 Johnson back in '72 when they first came out. I was running the OEM alum. prop. Guarantee you, Sunday afternoon was the family play day and almost EVERY Monday during my lunch hour, the prop would be in the prop shop for a dog eared blade repair. Finally got tired of that about the time OMC came out with their teflon coated SST and that was the end of the trips to the prop shop. Never a bent shaft.
