Re: Sharpening the blades on a standard prop
All my boats have them. It is a free 1-2 mph/100-200rpm minimum, somtimes 5mph. The key is to only remove minimum material, and the same for every blade. I found best way is to hand-file leading edge of blades, just until sharp/round, not paper cutting sharp. Leave the center of the original front edge! Don't feather back into prop very far, like 1/16-1/8" max and make it more *rounded* than pointy, like the front of an airplane wing. At base of blade where it is wider, just round the corners off and don't do much as the outer part is more important. This only takes 20-30 minutes at the most. Do not use a grinder and hog it or you will have trash. I have very lightly used a fine small grinder for just the initial cut on SS props as they are so hard. The tiny bit of material you take off will not affect the balance of your prop if you do it this way. Of course, you have to start off with a perfect prop, as any damage will slow you down. I have made them paper sharp but for only minor gains.<br /><br />I have also slightly rounded the front of the lower unit and skeg on the parts that are in the water on plane. It is important that you do *not* make this area pointed or it will steer bad. This is only good for 1mph or so and depends on how square the front of the motor is to begin with, I would recommend just taking off the sharp square edges and not doing much here. Better to get a nosecone if you can.
