Slight prop damage - what should I do now?

[jvigier]

3 blade stainless steel prop 26p

Got turned around at a landing by vicious current and got two dings on my prop.

Both are on the very outer edge, 1 measures 3 mm wide and 1.5 mm deep second is 2mmX1mm. The metal isn't gone, the measurements are where the metal got "crowned" into a spoon shape (I am a car mechanic, not a boat afficionado, excuse the lack of proper lingo).

Boat is running just fine, no performance issues or cavitations or else.

My neighbor says "leave it alone"

My 4 inch grinder in the shop is calling out to me.

Should I grind those nicks so that the surface is smooth (the edge will still have a notch in it obviously?

Should I just leave it alone?

Thanks very much for any insight!

 

[Yellow Yota]

Re: Slight prop damage - what should I do now?

You could leave it alone, or you could grind it to a visually appealing shape.

Or, you could have it checked out and re-tuned; eliminating the risk of future damage to other parts of your drive that can be caused by an imbalanced prop.

You're a car guy. Would you recommend that someone keeps driving on a bent axle of driveline? Or that they try to "grind it straight"? Or would you suggest that they do it right?

 

[jvigier]

Re: Slight prop damage - what should I do now?

Good point, will look for prop repair in my area tomorrow.

Thanks for setting me straight...pun intended...

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Slight prop damage - what should I do now?

if it was cheap aluminum prop i would be more inclined to try to fix it up myself, and maybe just keep it as a spare. but like posted above... this is a situation to do it right. a prop shop can make it like new again, for much less than the cost of a new prop.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Slight prop damage - what should I do now?

I had the same thing happen to me on my 50 merc.....but didnt want to chance using a chipped prop,,,,bought a Solas replacement at a very reasonable price .....tried it yesterday and could notice the smoothness of it especially at mid to WOT. I would recommend you rebuild it or get a new one.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Slight prop damage - what should I do now?

You just answered your own question. If you touch it it will only be for looks. Just to get picky if you will, grinding off any material will ever so slightly change the balance of the prop as compared to an extremely slight distortion of the effect on water flow...course the dimensions of the dings you are referring to are probably undetectable in considering balance.

If the ding makes for sharp surfaces that could injure a swimmer who happened too close when parked and playing, then you might want to file them off till smooth.

Unlike Aluminum, SS has a much better work function meaning that you can bend it back if you want to whereas cast aluminum would normally just break off. Position the ding area on your shop vise anvil and take a light (4 oz) ball peen hammer and tap it until it is back where it was.

HTH,

Mark