www.iFourWinns.com

I have a question on props. I want to get a new one, the current aluminum one is a little beat up and it's time for a new one. I've been thinking about stainless steel, I've read that they perform better than aluminum (less flex). My problem is I've heard that if you hit a rock or anything hard you could wreck the outdrive ( the reasoning, something has to give and ss prop is harder than the outdrive, where aluminum prop would give saving the outdrive ). It makes sense to me, but I don't know how much truth is behind it. So that is my question, If it hit a rock, log, etc.. with a ss prop will it ruin my SX drive? Also, any thought on three vs. four blades. My boat has the 5.0L Gi with the SX drive.

Any help would be appreciated.

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2008 F450 TOW VEHICLE
2001 Four Winns 215 Sundowner

I went from the stock aluminum prop to a SS prop, dropping one size in pitch (21 to 20) and found that I lost a few mph of top end. However, over the last 10 seasons I've had more than a couple occasions where I got too shallow. Each time I quickly move to Neutral and then raise the drive. Take it from me, aluminum props get chewed up pretty easy. I've found bottom twice since installing the stainless prop, and it didn't even get nicked. Now where I boat it varies from sand, to muck, and rocky bottom types. And the rocks in the rocky areas are more like pebbles. In areas with coral, rocky ledges, or boulders I could see wanting to stay with aluminum to protect the drive, but for where I boat I'm staying with SS.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Basically a stainless prop does flex less, and it will give you maybe 2-3mph more top speed and maybe a touch thrust more out of the hole. If you wack a stainless prop definitely a lot more chance of doing internal damage. On your boat if you want to go to a stainless i would still with a 3 blade of the same pitch you have now.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

I'll say this outa my own experience.... hitting something will NOT wreck your drive, AND your prop is less likely to get chewed up. I beach frequently, and would get my Alum props refurbished EVERY year. In 5+ years of running SS props, I have never had a ding bad enough to get taken care of. I have hit something very hard (40 mph) with my SS prop, and it wrecked the internal hub... that is the plastic insert between the prop shaft and propeller itself. Aparently it is designed to dissentigrate under these circumstances, and prevent damage to the drive. It's only about a $10 part too. I believe they are standard with props any more... the last one I saw that did not have even suprised my prop guy at Midwest Propeller. http://midwestpropeller.com/
btw, they have great service and some of the best prices, period!

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

well if you boat where it's a mud or sandy bottom the SS will be fine and the better performance and durability are benefits...but if you are where it's rocky like here they are a risk...you can hit something and not think you damaged the drive...but the gears can get a microscopic fracture and then some time later you can have a failure...big time...

I use aluminum because we have rocks and it does not contribute to galvanic corrosion in salt water for moored boats...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

[quote="Walt"]I'll say this outa my own experience.... hitting something will NOT wreck your drive, AND your prop is less likely to get chewed up. Aparently it is designed to dissentigrate under these circumstances, and prevent damage to the drive. It's only about a $10 part too. I believe they are standard with props any more... the last one I saw that did not have even suprised my prop guy at Midwest Propeller. http://midwestpropeller.com/

+1 to Walt.

I don't know who starts these urban legends about SS props tearing up the outdrives. Maybe it's from older engines/boats. All of the decent engines/boats either have the setup Walt described or a shear pin that will break off first. Maybe it's a plot manufactured by the aluminum prop companies to sell more props!

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2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4
Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP

I wanted to comment on hitting something will NOT wreck your drive...

I hit a rock and bent the prop shaft which destroyed the inside of the SX lower unit. I changed to a Piranha prop that will break off the blades if I hit something again and the prop hub has a lifetime guarantee. Total price of prop and lower unit replacement was $4800.00.

Many stainless props have solid hubs, but some have plastic hubs. if you were to go with one then go with the plastic. Basic knowledge tells you stainless props are much hardner than aluminum. When you wack an aluminum the blades are more likely to break or fold under the impact, when you hit a stainless it tranfers through the prop, shaft and into the case. I see it every day, much much more likely to have internal damage upon impact with a stainless prop.

That all being said, an SX drive is a pretty stong drive and having a bent shaft does not mean the lower unit is junk or even that gears are broken.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY