The Carolinas - Which prop?

I just purchased a 2005 Bayliner 205 Runabout. It came standard with an aluminum prop. I was wondering if I should replace it with a stainless steel propeller. Also wondering if I should put a skeg guard made out of stainless steel on the lower drive unit. I want to make my lower unit as strong and reliable as possible.

Welcome to THT!
A SS prop will reduce slip and should be more efficient at higher speeds. They are a bit tougher if you take a hit, but you could shear somthing in the drive too. Aluminum will usually just break, not injuring the drive or seals. Do a search here on THT and you should find plenty of info.

I wouldn't get the Skeg guard until I it was dinged up pretty bad, or if you think you'll be hitting rocks, stumps, oyster beds, etc. If that's the case you're better off staying with the cheap aluminum prop. I want stainless but until I feel I can stay out of trouble will be sticking with aluminum. Not planning on a whole lot of WOT operations anyway with gas prices and all.

Your skeg will take more abuse than you think. I've already nailed an oyster bed, stump, and drug on something at the ramp myself......learning curve for a new I/O owner! I broke the prop on the stump and bought a brand new one. My skeg is showing signs of me being there, but a little file and paint work will do wonders for it!
I am currently bidding on a gently used prop on ebay for an onboard spare. Something you should consider as well. It is not a good feeling to be drifting with no means of propulsion! :o

You here in the Carolinas? :thumbsup:

Welcome to THT--- Your question is a common one---You may consider purchasing a stainless prop however I would do the borrow and try method---That way you hopefully will find the " wheel" that does almost everything----

Yes, I am located in SC about 2 miles from lake murray. That is where I will be using the boat 99% of the time. I have already ruined one skeg and prop hitting something. This was my first I/O also. I have had it for about 8 months now and I am getting a real hang of it. When I hit it a sandbar in charleston it broke the skeg and ruined the prop. It also broke a plastic ring inside the drive shaft so it wouldnt do real damage on the drive. My boat also has a feature that when it comes in contact with something, it raises up automatically to adjust itself off the ground. I didn't know that since I had this feature if a skeg guard and SS prop would be good or not.

Dude it sounds like there was a rock in that sandbar. You took a hard hit indeed.
That's a pretty cool feature about the drive raising automatically, but might be a case of "too little too late" after it has contacted something?
Do you have a depth sounder onboard?

I would also get the drive checked by a mechanic to be sure there is no other damage, and it won't vibrate or anything. vibration can kill the seals in a drive quickly.

If you'll be going into rocky, sandy areas like this often, then the skeg guard may be a wise move. Every little bit of help is welcomed when you're out there. If you're prone to hitting doing this again, I'd stay with the lower cost aluminum prop, and have a spare on board with tools and two sets of nuts, washers, etc.

Best of luck and let us know what you decide to do! :thumbsup:


Here's a crazy idea.....
If that automatic rasing feature could be coupled to your depth sounder and activated as a switchable (meaning you have the option of manually disabling it) protection measure at a certain depth say 3 feet it would rise to predetermined self protection angle, that would be awesome....a self protecting outdrive! ;?

I had it fixed and checked out by a mechanic. They said that I had probably hit a lot of rocks also. I really like the idea of the skeg guard, because I won't be taking it anywhere except for lake murray, which I know like the back of my hand. (I used to have a 20 year old pontoon). I also like the idea of a SS prop because of the no flexing and strength, and if I have the skeg guard the expensive prop should be protected. I do have a depth finder, that has an audible warning sound, but for some reason it didnt work. It works sometimes and then it doesn't. I want to have the best boat possible with like adding accessories and such without anything EXTREMELY expensive.

Bayliner12 - you sound like the guy that buys a 4wheeler to go off road then complains when he breaks things on it.
Parts are designed for specific duties and when you exceed their abilities it does get expensive. The more careful you operate your toy the less expensive it is. You seem to be overly concerned with doing damage to the lower unit. It seems a lot better to incur damage to the lower unit than to the hull. Be thankful the motor stopped the hull from damage. A prop is a lot cheaper than repairing the hull. Just be nice to the boating god and don't let him ruin the summer for ya. Stay safe and quit all that worrying about what might happen.