Backup Props

[tedconverse]

Hey all, I have CS23 with 6.2 L MPI ECT-350 B3 DTS (Bravo 3). Wondering if it's smart to have backup props on board? Are the props separate on a B3, or do you replace the whole unit (2 props).

[jhnmdahl]

Separate props. It depends on what kind of damage your props might take, and how easy/hard it is to replace in the water (e.g. with a prop nut wrench). If you simply ding up a propeller on a rock or something, it's easy enough to fix when you're back on the trailer. If you "spin a hub," i.e. the resilient rubber part that holds the hub to the propeller goes bad, you may be stuck limping home at a few miles per hour unless you have spare props handy.

[billk2632]

Separate props that require a special tool to remove. It would be hard to do in the water (not impossible) and they are big and heavy, I would not want to carry them around for the slight chance you might have to change them on the water. Not a bad idea to have a spare prop set, just would not carry them around on a small boat. You have to hit something big and hard to damage a BIII propset to the point you can't limp home on it. At that point you probably have damaged something else also. I personally don't have a spare prop set for my VP - they are expensive, plus my marina is a Volvo dealer that always has those in stock.

[bruceb58]

My boat came with 20" pitch Solas props. They are now my spares as I now run 21" props. I think it's a very good idea to have spare props. I keep mine in my garage because my boat is on my dock in the back yard.

[tedconverse]

I changed a single prop Alpha 1s on the water before. Is the procedure more difficult with the 2 prop B3?

[billk2632]

I changed a single prop Alpha 1s on the water before. Is the procedure more difficult with the 2 prop B3?

More difficult in that there are two props, they are much heavier and more that one tool involved - the inner prop has a different type of nut. Can it be done, sure, would I want to no. I've changed my Alpha props in the water before also and they are not bad - also smaller and easier to store on the boat. I guess for me being on an inland lake and never THAT far from home I'm not going to carry two big props around on the off chance I might need them. Never in 30+ years of boating have I damaged a prop to the point I could not get home with it and if I did, then it's a BoatUS call. Now, if I cruised in a different area, great lakes, the coast I might feel differently. Where you boat there might be reasons for carrying them and if you feel you should, then I would - it's just not something I would do for my boating situation.

[MnLakeBum]

As mentioned already, where you boat is a big factor. I don’t have extra props for our MN lake boating in our R5 Surf but it’s not very likely I would sustain anything but minor damage on a prop. If I did it’s easy to get a tow from a neighbor or other boater to one of the marinas on the lake.

For our 24’ Boston Whaler(300 V8 Verado) in SW Florida, I have an extra prop with hub installed just in case. I don’t want to be 10+ miles offshore and run into a fishing net or other debris and not have an extra prop onboard. I changed it last year from the swim platform without getting in the water in just a few minutes. I also have a Garmin InReach onboard and all the other safety equipment.

[tedconverse]

Ok. Thanks for the responses. I boat inland lakes, so I agree with the responses for not lugging around an extra Bravo3 prop. Thank up all!