Prop Guards: do they work?
- Thread starter sunman
- Start date
I put one on a 26S for one reason only.. I bought a real nice Ruddercraft rudder and if the rudder is about 45 degree raised, the prop can hit it. You normally dont run the rudder at 45 degrees but I did do this once in a grounding.
As far as any other effect.. with a 9.8 hp on a 26 Classic, you have a lot of excess hp anyhow.. I never measured anything but cant say I really noticed any difference.
Since its an unpainted metal surface and electrically connected to the outboard, I think you will go through the outboard zinc faster with the stainless steel guard if you leave the prop in the water all the time.
As far as any other effect.. with a 9.8 hp on a 26 Classic, you have a lot of excess hp anyhow.. I never measured anything but cant say I really noticed any difference.
Since its an unpainted metal surface and electrically connected to the outboard, I think you will go through the outboard zinc faster with the stainless steel guard if you leave the prop in the water all the time.
I second Walt. I call mine a rudder guard, not prop guard, although if you get into shallows it would protect the blades.
I can't confirm any change in thrust with it.
I can't confirm any change in thrust with it.
Did/do you notice any adverse effects in the slow spd handeling, I.E. steering and reverse thrust?
I have a 2in. all alum ring for my 8hp sailmaster, haven't drilled any holes yet
my rudder was nicked once too, and I had a Crab pots line get caught in the prop aswell.
I was reading some post on these lill widgets, and most if not all took them off, but it wasnt the sailing community, small skiffs, so I assume they were not happy w/the loss of a few knots, and yes we have more power then we truly use most of the time.
So the Q: is now after you have it or had it and experienced it, would you do it again?
I have a 2in. all alum ring for my 8hp sailmaster, haven't drilled any holes yet
my rudder was nicked once too, and I had a Crab pots line get caught in the prop aswell.
I was reading some post on these lill widgets, and most if not all took them off, but it wasnt the sailing community, small skiffs, so I assume they were not happy w/the loss of a few knots, and yes we have more power then we truly use most of the time.
So the Q: is now after you have it or had it and experienced it, would you do it again?
Didn't stop floating sea grass from wrapping around the prop crossing Florida Bay but like the others mentioned no more hitting the rudder accidentally
and as Walt said enough power that I don't know if you could tell a difference. I think I put this one on before we ever used this outboard. The nice chunk removal was done with the previous outboard,Sum
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I think I also had some weeds stuck in the ring a long time ago on a mountain lake. I think when it happened the outboard noise changed some and then it seemed like there was no thrust even though the prop was turing???
Im pretty sure I had to clean it all out on the water..
But.. no more gouges on the prop
Im pretty sure I had to clean it all out on the water..
But.. no more gouges on the prop
Yep, that is pretty much the same as our experience. We hit a section of water were the floating grass was in mats everywhere moving pretty much at right angles to our direction of travel and the wind had changed and we were now motoring in order to make it across before dark.
I'd steered standing up so I could see the grass and would run the boat parallel to the mats and then if if looked like there was an opening or they weren't so thick I'd turn and head in the direction we needed to go. It was a real mess and hopefully if it happens again the motor will be up.
Sometimes I could reverse the prop but most times had to pull the outboard up and then get out....
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-30.html
.... on the boarding ladder which is horizontal to the water pulling the dinghy. So it gives you a platform that you can get on to clean the prop out as the grass would tighten down on the hub,
Sumner
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In situations where your outboard can catch weeds, your rudder will also catch weeds and you can tell when it happens - also slows the boat down. But.. the rudder is easy to release the weeds. Ive also had to release them off my centerboard.. this is the lake where I have had the weed issue but it actually isnt that bad. Picture is from late in the sumer in a shallow area near where the river comes in. This picture is in Colorado where weed is now legal so maybe the problem is worse now..
Put one on both of my motors 4hp Yamaha,6HP Tohatsu. Wanted to protrect the rudder. Noticed no difference in performance.