*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: When the real estate agent says its an "improving neighborhood" and you're the improvement, it's time to move.
Boy did I just take a beating and learned a hard lesson. Two weeks ago I took my Bravo 2 prop into my local prop shop to have it rehubbed and have a minor ding repaired in it. I called today to check on the status and to my dismay I was told my prop was junk. Evidently in the process of putting a new bushing in they shattered the center aluminum hub out of it. I went over to pick it back up the guy tells me that on the aluminum props about 40 percent shatter the hub when trying to replace it. I asked if that is the case why he doesn’t explain that to people when they drop their prop off so they wouldn’t be shell shocked when they called and found out their $550.00 prop is now junk.
Now that I have the prop back in my possession it appears to me that they busted the center while trying to push the old hub out. It further appears they were trying to push it out the wrong end. Through a hole that was just too small to allow the bushing to go through and there for busting out the side wall of the hub. There are other things that indicate that they did not have the right equipment to do the job and were doing it with cobbled up stuff in an effort to get by. This is going to be a long hard process to try to get something out of this idiot but I’m going to push this to the end. Quote from the owner of the prop shop “ you brought me a prop that was junk and useable I was just trying to save you some money and repair it”. My comment back was that I brought you a good prop in need of some repair and you destroyed it.
With all that said can anyone tell me if this is a common occurrence that the hub shatters on aluminum props when they are trying to replace the bushing. If indeed it is common at 40 % of the time as I was told then I may not have a lot of recourse. If it is not I’m going to send this prop out of state to a high volume prop shop in Seattle and get an opinion. At that point it will probably be small claims court. This just reinforces my major complaint about boat ownership in Alaska. It is just damn hard to find qualified people or companies to get your service work done.
That sucks!!!! I would be pissed and they would figure out real quick that the explanation was unacceptable. I would press them for at least the value of a used prop of that kind. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
I've had the same experience with my Bravo II Props. On the last one, the shop had to use a 10,000 press to remove the old hub and it blew out the prop.
I found a shop a number of years ago that was able to rehub them, however, they both spun after about 10 hours use. It turned out that they were shaving the new hubs to get them in without blowing the props!
I hate to say it, because they are so expensive, but I now trash my props rather than even attempt to rehub them. Some of my friends have gone to SS props which are much better....and much more expensive.
Bear in mind, aluminum is a "softer" metal than stainless steel.* Using this comparison, I can see an aluminum prop being damaged more easily than stainless.* That is why my prop is a stainless steel prop!
__________________ Hubs Tub
Scout 162 w/90 Yammie
Johns Island, SC USA
That being the case that it is a problem trying to rehub aluminum props I have just opted to buy stainless. Found what I think is a good deal for a stainless Bravo 2 prop $420.00. Can anyone tell me is this a fairly good price for one??
Watch ebay and try turbo props in ohio or there abouts. They are new props but the owner is knowageable and the props are great. Also look the in the trading dock.
If its in good shape then go for it. Thats a good price for a SS B2.*
The Bravo 2's are physically huge propellers in comparison to a Bravo 1's. Hence the cost is higher. Not nearly as popular either.
SIM
__________________ Andy Munao Our new parts site: www.simyamaha.com Yamaha Outboard Sales, Parts and Service 1-800-213-3323 parts@shipyardisland.com Click the logo to see our THT Vendor Forum
A thought on aluminum vs. stainless. Stainless by far is harder, thus more relient to dings/damages than aluminum...BUT, are you not transferring the shock of the hit up the drivetrain to your gearcase when you have a stainless prop on? Now, instead of a dinged prop, you potentially have a chipped tooth on a gear or worse?
The stainless prop I was talking about is brand new. I thought it was a good price so I bought one. It listed for $520.00 and they gave me 25% off that. It is actually cheaper than some of the prices I got on aluminum props the same size.
Yes stainless is harder material and maybe it could cause problems further up the drive. A chance I'm going to take I don't want to buy a new aluminum prop everytime I spin a hub. Hopefully with the stainless prop they can push a new hub in without blowing out the prop in the process.
Since I run very skinny water ( 5 or 6 inches ) I wonder how often you spin a prop in deeper Alaskan waters. Or did some seaweed get caught up or something? I've put some serious dings on the SS prop running over oyster bars ( not on purpose), but I haven't spun a prop in recent years. ?? RichG
In my 10 + years of owning and running a boat here in Alaska this was the first prop I have ever spun. My old boat I had for 6 years and never spun a prop on that. This boat I bought new and it was the fourth season on it. The last run of the season last year and a 1/2 mile from the harbor when it spun the prop. I was up running at cruise for about 13 miles didn't hit or run through anything it just went away.
Hello Mad Alaskan, I live in the Colorado rockies and know what you mean about a good boat shop, but I've allways heard good things about these guys for props prices. You may want to give them a call the next time you need a prop.(hopefully not too soon) Midwest Propeller, 913-782-0213. or Turbo Props, 317-545-9080.
That's odd. . . we learned boating on a Mercury 7.4/BII set up. Not proud to say but I've "dinged" and wrecked the hub multiple times in a course of 2 or 3 years. Based on the "Mercury Certified" technician's advice, we bought a new "spare" while the wrecked one was in the shop. All I can tell you is that every time we brought in a "damaged prop" it came back to us looking BRAND NEW. This was few years back and the service cost us $250. They may cost more but they guarntee their work . . .
They Destroyed My Prop 
