Anyone had any experience positive or negative with a prop guard?
[url "http://www.clacka.com/propGuard.htm"]http://www.clacka.com/propGuard.htm[/url]
[url "http://www.allinflatables.com/shopping/custom/guards.html"]http://www.allinflatables.com/shopping/custom/guards.html[/url]
[url "http://www.rbbi.com/pgic/"]http://www.rbbi.com/pgic/[/url]
I'm not sure that my old boat can handle the extra weight of a hydraulic lift for the outboard, and I know if I don't do something I will be dinging (or worse) my prop when I go through shallow water.
[signature]
Hi Kent -- I always thought the Skeg was the high dollar part to protect -- the prop is a low dollar (under $100) piece of the motor compared to the Skeg.
Check out this option and see if it's something that might be less of a performance issue.
I will be purchasing one soon because I had a rock shark take a bite out of mine...
[url "http://www0.shopping.com/xPC-Megaware_Sp655_Skegpro_Skeg_Protector"][/url]
[url "http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/product.asp?prod=319716&track=shoppingcom"]http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/product.asp?prod=319716&track=shoppingcom[/url]
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Skeg and prop guards work so so. I've seen motors that have had damaged skegs that were hit so hard that it totally ripped the skeg off the lower unit and destroyed the prop. These different types of guards are designed for minor or indirect impacts. If you hit something hard, you'll still not only damage your lower unit and prop but also your expensive guards. [/size][/black][/font]
[signature]
I'm not hoping to protect anything from a hard hit, just the kind of hits that I would encounter moving slowly in shallow water. Props may not be terribly expensive (unless one has the large stainless steel ones) but getting them repaired or replaced does add up.
[signature]
[indent][font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I'd say! I bump my stainless prop and it's over $90 to send it back to turbo to be re-pitching. The problem is, everytime you hit a prop, you hit the skag! Shallow water sucks![/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]So how was your Gorge trip?[/size][/font][/indent]
[signature]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]"So how was your Gorge trip?"[/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]Didn't make it.[/size][/font]
[signature]
Kent,
I had one on my old duck boat. It was circular and fit around both the skeg and prop. It was cheap but I can't remember who made it. I'll do some research and see if I can come up with something. It worked great, but, as far as I know, I never hit anything with it.
IFG
A fellow BFTer gave me a heads up on this unit:
[url "http://www.propsavers.com/River%20Runner.html"]http://www.propsavers.com/River%20Runner.html[/url]
He has had experience with other units and found this one to be the best. I ordered it from a different site, but this gives a good description of the unit.
[signature]