Re: old prop = nut keeper, new prop = none
Don't bet on it; in theory yes, but Merc has that lock nut on for a reason, insurance, if nothing else. Lots of people don't think to check their prop nut, so if it gets loose they never know it till it's too late. The lock incures it stays secure.<br /><br />For what it's worth, my current boat was 2 years old and when I was examining it for purchase, I could move the prop about 1/8" back and forth on the shaft. Obiously it was not installed correctly, but it did have the locking tab installed. <br /><br />It could be a throwover from before the days of thru hub exhaust when they had an aluminum cone (hub) and it was locked in place (only locking device) with a sorta similar disc with tabs on it that locked into the hub(same function).<br /><br />Then when the went to the thru hub and used the brass nut with nylon locking insert, they kept the tab locking device. Who knows why, other than to insure that you don't loose your prop while on an outing.<br /><br />If you decide to run without it, maybe you could check the nut for the first few hours and if it stays intact, maybe you are good to go with an occasional check from time to time.<br /><br />So the question in my mind is where did you get a prop without a Merc hub?<br /><br />HTH<br /><br />Mark
