DQOTD

Not a stupid question.
Seems to me comes under the heading of "self rescue"
I carry a spare prop, and tools, and spare hardware such as thrust washer, nut, cotter pins to change the prop.
My reasoning: even with excellent navigation skills, props can hit debris. Also, props fail because the hubs "spin". I have assisted more boats because of that failure than due to destroying a prop by hitting an object/the bottom. 3 for the former, 1 for the latter. A limited sample!
The imperative to carry a spare may depend on single engine vs twin, kicker vs paddles..........with a sailboat, one always has an alternative means of propulsion.
If you decide to carry a spare, I would advise practicing changing the prop in a realistic as possible fashion. That is, leaning over the motor, squatting on the swim platform or such like. You will not have a dock handy when/if your prop needs to be changed!
 
Always. (That would include a spare castle nut, washers and pins, as well as the necessary tools and grease). A prop may be the most likely thing to "break" on your engine - and whatever your level of knowledge, experience or ability, it is something almost anyone can fix without special diagnostics, tools or training.

There are several threads on the site about what else people choose to carry in the way of emergency or repair items.
 
Those with twins already have a "spare prop" permanently on board. Although most C-Dory's with twins won't plane on a single engine, they can still get home quite comfortably. I have spare set of props for the Tomcat but I don't normally carry them on board. Since the engines are counter rotating, I'd need to have two spares on board in order to make it sensible. If I were to take a long cruise, I'd pack both but for fishing (even for long offshore trips), I don't.
 
One for the main and one for the kicker/dinghy motor as well. Plus one for the electric trolling motor we use on the bow.

Three spares for three motors and the parts and tools to change them. Unless a person lacked the knowledge to change one, or the will to gain that knowledge, I can't imagine why a boater would not carry a spare even if it was a used banged up spare. The best running outboard motor on the planet only makes noise without a prop. OK, maybe some voltage as well.

Greg
 
Thanks for the informative replies.

Willow does have twin Honda 40's.

But if we were out for an extended period of time, the loss of one would not be disastrous but would be inconvenient. I've owned BMW motorcycles for a long time and always wrench them myself so changing a prop isn't a daunting task.


The prop has 11 1/4 X 13 on it. Most sailing motor props I've dealt with are always whole numbers, w/o quarter inches. The both look OEM and in excellent shape w/o any dings on the edges and seem smooth running when underway.

When we head off on an extended trip, I will pick up a spare to insure that I won't need it. :lol:
 
I also carry a spare prop. Actually two. One for the main and one for the Kicker. And yes, I have needed that main spare twice while out away from home. I also have several spares at home. On the boat I also carry the spare mounting hardware and a hub. (I use props with separate hubs.) The mounting hardware most likely isn't going to get damaged, however too great of chance of watching the hardware sink when changing a prop out on the water. Colby
 
NORO LIM":hyv2b4ka said:
Always. (That would include a spare castle nut, washers and pins, as well as the necessary tools and grease). A prop may be the most likely thing to "break" on your engine - and whatever your level of knowledge, experience or ability, it is something almost anyone can fix without special diagnostics, tools or training.

There are several threads on the site about what else people choose to carry in the way of emergency or repair items.
Click to expand...

I've been very unsuccessful in searching on this site and need a little help please.

If I wanted to see only the posts that have the phrase "spare prop", what format would I enter those words in the search box? I tried spare+prop and didn't get the expected results.
 
Nancy and Bud":i5jrihby said:
NORO LIM":i5jrihby said:
Always. (That would include a spare castle nut, washers and pins, as well as the necessary tools and grease). A prop may be the most likely thing to "break" on your engine - and whatever your level of knowledge, experience or ability, it is something almost anyone can fix without special diagnostics, tools or training.

There are several threads on the site about what else people choose to carry in the way of emergency or repair items.
Click to expand...

I've been very unsuccessful in searching on this site and need a little help please.

If I wanted to see only the posts that have the phrase "spare prop", what format would I enter those words in the search box? I tried spare+prop and didn't get the expected results.
Click to expand...

Use the Google custom search box and enter the phrase "spare prop" WITH THE QUOTES INCLUDED. This will look for posts in which that exact phrase occurs.
 
I carry a 2nd prop but it is a different pitch than the original one as the 2nd provides better performance at altitude in lakes such as Yellowstone. Lots of advice here so I will only suggest that I also carry an inexpensive volt/ohm meter which doesn't take up much space and is very handy to track down electrical gremlins.
 
Yes, I carry a spare, and on long cruises, I carry 2. They are both the same, due to the twin 40's, but it is not impossible to find a rock with one on one day, and then a rock with the other on the next day. The second day warranted a change, First day was just a dry run.

In the CBRATS Search box type in exactly like this

spare AND prop

Check the "Search for all terms" button, on the second line I think and click search button on the bottom line.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

1_10_2012_from_Canon_961.highlight.jpg
 
I come from sailing and never carried a spare prop then. But that's because there were sails. Now there are no sails, so I feel as thought I want more backups in the engine department. Part of that is carrying a spare prop.

Another thing is that on the sailboats I've taken out of sight of land, the prop has been fairly protected (behind keel, etc.). Not so on our C-Dorys.

But there is another reason. Altitude. If I used my normal sea-level prop on Lake Powell (which is at around 4,000'), I would not be able to make the correct range of WOT (wide-open throttle) RPM, as specified in the engine manual (typically 5,000 to 6,000 RPM, but not always). So I have a "Powell prop." Hence when I'm on Powell the sea-level prop is my spare, and when at sea level, the Powell prop is the spare. If I went on a long sea level trip (Great Loop, for example), I'd carry a spare sea-level prop.


*******

Side discussion, please just ignore if you already know all this. And although I get the concept, it's possible I will use technically wrong words to explain it.

At any rate, the way boats keep from "lugging" (running too fast at too low of an RPM) is by having the correct prop -- since we can't shift up through the gears like you can in a car. The way you know you have things set so they are not lugging at any speed is by selecting a prop that will get you within the specified RPM range at WOT (wide open throttle). The range is in the engine manual, but on many of our outboards it's 5,000-6,000 RPM. Better to be in the upper half of the range.

Even if you never actually boat at WOT (most of us don't), you still have to be able to pass that "test" of RPMs attained at WOT, or else you'll actually be lugging the engine at all speeds, not just at WOT. I mention that as I've heard people say "oh, but I won't be lugging because I don't cruise at WOT." But that's not accurate.

The way you change the RPM figure you can make at WOT is to change or adjust the prop. The right one will make, say, 5,600 RPM at WOT. Then you know you are good. Altitude reduces it. So for example if I run my "normal" prop at sea level and make 5,600 RPM at WOT, that same prop might only make me 4,700 on Lake Powell at 4,000'. So I have a different prop that will make something like 5,300 RPM at WOT on Powell. That's a hair closer to the lower end of the acceptable range than I would like, ideally, but it's okay.

BTW this is not just for outboards. Where I used to work we made many "out and back" runs to check WOT on larger boats with inboards. Not as easy/cheap to change a prop on those, but still important for the engines to make rated RPM at WOT. The out and back is to even out any current/wind/etc.

Loading may also affect things, so good to have something like your average typical load when making your WOT testing runs.

SB
 
hardee":7m2pock1 said:
<stuff clipped>

In the CBRATS Search box type in exactly like this

spare AND prop

Check the "Search for all terms" button, on the second line I think and click search button on the bottom line.

Harvey
SleepyC
Click to expand...
As an aside, there are two reasons IMO for using the Google search box on the site. 1) It works better and most importantly 2) I use Google all the time for other purposes and it's easier to just use the same search box and syntax that I'm used to for the vast majority of my other searches.
 
I agree with all.
We currently do short trips to soft sand beaches (Fri high was 96 degrees) with easy get-home capability on one F150 at 2000 RPM. After 3 years, I'm still experimenting with props (have 3 twin sets now) and much depends on loading, cruising styles, altitude, and preferences. We take a spare set every winter trip to Key West, but I keep them in the pickup bed, not on the TomCat due to space (big engines, big props).
It's really, really hard to argue against having a spare set and tools and knowing how to do it in a pinch. I won't even try.
Happy Boating!
John
 
I carry a "cheap" OEM aluminum spare and all of the tools to change it (same pitch and diameter as my normal prop). I too am a sailor and do not have a spare for any of my (3) sailboats, but as Sunbeam has said, we have sails on those boats and the engine for sailboats is only a secondary means of propulsion.
 
Nancy and Bud":2zab0enj said:
NORO LIM":2zab0enj said:
. . .
There are several threads on the site about what else people choose to carry in the way of emergency or repair items.
Click to expand...

I've been very unsuccessful in searching on this site and need a little help please.

If I wanted to see only the posts that have the phrase "spare prop", what format would I enter those words in the search box? I tried spare+prop and didn't get the expected results.
Click to expand...

You can just plug words or phrases in the "Google Custom Search" box next to the "Search" button in the upper left of any C-Brats page. Like Roger, I am a creature of habit and I tend to use Goggle's Advanced Search function (http://www.google.com/advanced_search) even when searching this site. The advance search feature allows you to narrow your search to any site or domain you choose (e.g., "www.c-brats.com"). This achieves the same effect as the "Google Custom Search" box already mentioned on the site itself, but it eliminates the first few annoying advertising hits you're likely to get on the "Google Custom Search." More importantly, the Advance Search page allows you to refine you search terms more precisely - you can include terms, exclude terms, or prescribe exact words or phrases.
 
I am sometimes very fly by night and causal about a lot of things. Father calls it half ass. But I have never left a dock with out a spare prop or the drive way with out a spare tire. I can not even imagine the scenario where not having one would be a benefit.
 
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