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Sticker Shock!
If anyone saw my post to Y.D, they noticed that I tore up a prop on my boat over the weekend. Fortunately for me, I was at idle speed in reverse. No motor damage, just a tore up prop that can not be rebuilt (missing fins). In years past, I always carry a spare prop. For some reason, I just didn't pickup another one at the time.
I remember when a new prop was $65.00. I used to have three of them when I fished the river. Boy those were the days. A new prop for my boat (alluminum) ended up running me a cool $189.00. And "NO" I didn't buy some high speed prop. Just a standard run of the mill quick silver from Mercury. The problem I found was simple: Mercury motors from 25 to 75hp, and Yamaha from 30 to 60hp utilize the same exact prop. Unfortunately, that is NOT a standard prop size for most other boats. You can find older motor props for less than $100 but..... not for the new model.
Cabelas sells the same prop for $154 so I didn't do bad by going to my local store and paying a little bit more to get it right away. I checked Cabelas, Bass Pro, and another company I use. The only other options was to go to Michigan Prop and get one for $140. 10.25x14p isn't easy to find and isn't cheap.
Oh, and after all that, my dad has an extra prop for his Mercury.... Same prop as mine. Atleast I know where my extra will come from when we fish the river. We only ever take one boat so atleast we know we have a spare...
One last thing. I considered buying a stainless prop until I found out that for my particular prop it was over $500.00.
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I'm in the same boat, I've been looking at another aluminum prop or maybe SS. Man are they pricey
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Well I can say this now as I haven't had to sink any $$ into my jet yet...sure glad I have the jet. That really sucks to have to pay that much for a prop. They kinda got ya by the shear pin there don't they?!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
fishingcouple
check out piranha props
x2
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Oh Yea I learned my lesson at Devil's Lake - bad, bad ,bad on props. I had mine reconditioned (two different times through Brest Bay Marina at Michigan Prop) "slow learner" it cost me $80.00 per trip. That's why I'm working on the Bass Raider to use in shallow water. No more taking the Tracker in shallow water.
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I did some looking at reconditioned props. They go for more money than what a new one did back in the 90's. Problem is, that size and pitch is hard to come by. I could switch size and pitch but it would be a give and take. I know you can get more top end by switching props, but at the same time, you lose that on the bottom. I do alot of trolling so making a change to my prop size will effect what I do on the bottom end. I'm gonna check out Piranha props though. I always like to have a spare.
On a side note, I finally sold my big boat. Guy never questioned the price. Just cut a check and walked away a happy camper. Dad is happy that it is out of the pole barn. Now he can go collect more crap to fill it. I did keep all of my fishing equipment though.
Maveal, I brought my 12 footer down to my house (from up north) to recondition and paint. I might have to start using her on all the "small" lakes.
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I have a spare Piranha prop and will have it at Waffle. I used to fish the Muskegon River and it was tough on props.. The advantage of the Piranha composite prop it that if you break any of the blades they are replacable so a whole lot less expensive. You do give up some speed out of the hole but I never found it a problem.
