Working on Props Again

[David CVX-16]

A 21" 2-blade bronze or a 21" Ballistic may become available that would work of your boat and motor. My 19" Ballistic is for sale under classifieds, but you need a 21" pitch. We will have a prop testing day this summer to see if either work for you. I say "may become available" because something has to be resolved/decided outside of my control. If they are for sale, you have first dibs.

[Rosscoe]

OK thank you.

[David CVX-16]

For those of you that need props touched up, including scratches, sharpening rough edges, and polishing, please get the props to me by March 15, 2011. After April 15, 2011 I will be working on my own projects. Drop off your prop at my home in Shoreview, MN. Please call ahead. (c) 612-363-3704. David. Thanks.

[V153]

Well David ya managed to get me motivated. Congratulations. That's not easy to do these days. Decided to tackle fixing the dent in the SRX prop myself.

Straightened the dings out best I could with a hammer & some old auto body tools I inherited from my Dad. Gently smoothed the edges with a worn out 220 flap disc. Followed by a super fine pearl disc. Then I wetsanded with 2000 grit & finished off with some Mothers.

Ain't perfect. Still a lil wrinkle in the blade to the right. But it came out okay. We'll find out tomorrow how it performs.

Take care.


Doug 

[David CVX-16]

Nice work Doug. Wow, 2000 grit. The more we can do ourselves and the less we have to farm out the others, the better. Hope your time trial is fast - nice when the prop does not loss any MPH after being dinged up abit.

Are you near the sand bar with the burnt baby grand piano? We talk about disrespect for a Glastron. How do you think that piano feels after being burnt and then hauled to a sand bar exposed to the elements and losing all of the fine tuning of the keys?

Let us know the results of the test run. Your best is 54.8 MPH - I have that number memorized.

[V153]

Are you near the sand bar with the burnt baby grand piano?

Nah that was over on the east coast David, Biscayne Bay off of Miami. Other than the occasional small plane crash nothing that exciting happens 'round these parts.

Sorry to report a rather lackluster day with the SRX prop. 52.2 was the best I could manage.[Sobbing.] Well it was a li windy ...  And for some reason the boat seemed particularly 'chine walky'. Even more than usual. Dunno why.

More disturbingly a little vibration developed right in the last few degrees of throttle. Not a whole lot but enough that you could feel it. Oh well. Gave it my best shot but I'm afraid I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet & send this prop off to the shop.

[David CVX-16]

Sorry to hear that Doug. Hopefully, the prop man will make the blade as it was before. They use expensive pitch blocks to reshape the blades and then balance the prop. My first 2-blade bronze prop was not modified correctly, had alot of vibration, and ended up wrecking the prop shaft.

Talked to my prop man on Friday about welding the end of the skeg on the 1988 Merc and filling 8 holes in the cavitation plate that secured the hydro fin. He said take the lower unit off. He fills the lower unit cavity with water to keep the heat down as he welds so that the lower unit grease does not have to be drained and the seals do not melt. Thought about farming out the painting, but the more we do ourselves, the better, and think I will paint the lower unit myself.

The motor will come home when the motor stand is built. Maybe a Christmas in February. My car may have to stay outside the rest of the winter, but I can make the sacrifice.