need help finding a prop guard

[DAVA390]

I wish to intstall on my 4hp Yamaha a prop guard to stop me from chewing up the tiller.I have read online reviews of the round cage type to place over the propeller , they seem to result in more drag, less speed, seaweed wrapping in , etc. I`m trying to find what I can only describe as a whale tale, Wider flat plate bolted to the horizontal plate above the propeller, unless a 30 or 40 of you chime in against it. When I google propeller guards, only thing I can find are the round ones. Thanks for all your help.. Dave

 

[Merlin Clark]

Dava,
Read up on "Kort Nozzle" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kort_nozzle. The idea is the nozzle directs the thrust more efficiently and you lose less off to the sides of the prop.
We had these on our outboards for safety when recovering divers and swimmers on little tiny rubber boats on great big oceans back when I was a Navy guy about 100 years ago. I had nothing to compare thier effectiveness to back then but know they did work well as safety devices.

 

[Mike B1026]

Check the online store on this site.

http://shop.macgregorowners.com/prod.php?50110/Power+Thruster+IV+for+Dinghies+and+Inflatables

 

[DAVA390]

Thanks, Mike, I liked the look of the power thruster,but I wonder if it is flexible, If I bump the tiller, would the tiller just push the steel band into the prop. I`ll have to think about this a bit. Anyone out there used this thing? Bueller??

 

[DAVA390]

I just read up on the Kort Nozzle also, it seemed pretty cool. Wouldn`t know where to find one for a tiny outboard though.

 

[kenn]

Wouldn`t know where to find one for a tiny outboard though.

Here's a start

You can help keep the prop and rudder apart by just a simple plate mounted on the outboard's anti-cavitation plate, but the round guards will give better overall protection, including to swimmers.

I hafta say that I've never ever seen the prop hit the tiller though.

 

[doehunter]

Here's a start

You can help keep the prop and rudder apart by just a simple plate mounted on the outboard's anti-cavitation plate, but the round guards will give better overall protection, including to swimmers.

I hafta say that I've never ever seen the prop hit the tiller though.

I saw the threads where others have hit their rudders (yea not tillers!) with their props, and I thought if you just pay attention it won't happen. Well now I'm a victim too! Motoring in shallow water at night, I thought the motor was hitting hard bottom. Next day I saw what I did to my IDA Sail rudder, and couldn't believe it. The PO had installed a rubber/plastic guard on one side of the anti cav plate. It wasn't rigid enough. Sooo, now I'm looking at installing a rigid plate too. I looked at the round ones, and I'm leery about bumping it too hard and then the prop hitting it. I think I favor the flat plate.

 

[jimmyb]

here you go
http://www.propguard.co.nz/main/page_home.html

jimmyb

 

[PuckandTitania]

I use the one sold here at SBO. It's easy to install and is rigid. The smallest they had was for an 8 inch prop and mine is only 7 1/2 inches, but it works fine. Can't say I've seen any improvement in thrust, that's not why I bought it. I wanted something to protect the rudder from prop bite and it serves the purpose well.

 

[DAVA390]

Thanks for the input guys, I`ll investigate the sbo one again.I`ve bought here before, a good experience. Dave.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Hey Puckandtatiana,
The propgard from SBO is the round enclosure? I managed to hit the rudder for the first time last week in reverse but had been considering one to keep the rudder uphaul from catching on the prop even when the engine was off but not lifted yet. Is it strong enough to allow the motor to travel on it's side in a van and if necessary, pulled out of a van with the prop "in trail"? I've found that when transporting the OB on it's side that the carb would flood and make starting very difficult if I lifted the prop end too high when removing from the van.

 

[patrickfarley]

I wish I had pictures of my rudder before I fixed it. The PO had hit the rudder with the outboard many many times.

 

[c_witch]

.Rudder chewing

I wish I had pictures of my rudder before I fixed it. The PO had hit the rudder with the outboard many many times.

Hopefully it was not as bad as what the PO had done to ours .

Happy sailing,
Brina

 

[MrUnix]

Hopefully it was not as bad as what the PO had done to ours .

Or ours.. been working on it for the last week or so. Love the smell of styrene in the evening :dance:

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Paul Brinkley]

From the pictures I see, you guys have not had prop damage! When I got my boat, the PO had hit the rudder several times and chewed up the rudder, then ground it smooth again. The result was a rudder blade that, instead of being a long oval, looked like a bow tie. I built up the damaged area, filling in about 2 1/4" on the trailing edge, to the original profile. So far (nearly 4 years), I haven't hit the prop yet. -Paul

 

[PuckandTitania]

Oldiesrocker
The one on here is not a full round guard. It is open on the bottom and only bolts to the cavitation plate. It seems strong enough to support the motor on it's side if caution is used. Or possibly make a wood cradle for the prop end to hold it just off the floor.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I can't touch the prop to my rudder on my present boat but my last boat I could.
For that boat I made a teardrop shaped 1/8" thick aluminium plate and bolted it to one side of the cavitation plate so that the prop could not contact the rudder, it did not not result in any additional drag. Cost was only about $7.
I would not add a power thruster to my motor. I have a 25" shaft and never had a problem with cavitation in bigger waves. I am usually sailing in this stuff.

Bob