Are plastic props junk?

[guy48065]

That's the plan.
Would a Yamaha 9-spline fit?

 

[flyingscott]

That's the plan.
Would a Yamaha 9-spline fit?

Don't know

 

[Texasmark]

I don't have enough hands for meters & timing lights when operating a tiller-steered outboard. If the Tiny Tach isn't reliable maybe there's something like it that is?

Timing light I have is a hand held, battery powered, laser pointed that fits in the palm of your hand. You put a reflective tape, and I have used a white paint marker pen, on the flywheel where you can see it from your seat. Get to your desired RPM point the laser at the line and press the button. I think I bought mine off ebay for a song!

 

[flyingscott]

That's the plan.
Would a Yamaha 9-spline fit?

That Yamaha prop is probably metric. The force shaft will be standard

 

[LaqueRatt]

Only time I've seen a plastic prop was also on a Force. Think it was a 9.9. Looked might small and flimsy. Not sure if it was stock or not, but sure didn't look right.

 

[racerone]

Johnson / Evinrude used plastic ( lexan ) props on smaller motors years and years ago.

 

[Jimwhall]

I imagine the answer has a lot to do with the hp of the motor.
I have a Force 5hp (1990 Merc) that I like for it's light weight. I've only run it in a barrel so I don't know how it performs on the lake. It has the original plastic prop. Do these flatten out under load?View attachment 387860

I generally go against the line here, but here goes:

On my '95 Sylvan with a 112 SPL Johnson I ran a ComProp for years. It was a plastic composite 4 blad 17" pitch. I'd hit about 40 WOT and was able to tube all my buddies in college with no issues. I had a prop strike once and it took a chunk out so I bought another one for cheap. I had to be careful with the RPM's at WOT (so not really WOT I guess) but that was true at that pitch no matter what prop I ran. When my son and his buddies got bigger and more numerous, I couldn't find a ComProp so I went with a 15" Solas with

There are those out there who feel you have to go SS or nothing, like aluminum and plastic are tissue paper attached to a hub. This isn't the case. Yes, they both flex more, but that can actually help a bit in the hole shot, and if you have kids who drive and risk a prop strike you help save your outdrive/lower unit with a softer metal/plastic.

So my advice would be this, look online, then read reviews and see what might fit what you want.