Inspect prop in cold water?

[SkiTundra]

Our lake is 3.5' low and when I put in last week I went through some muck. My first thought was that all seemed OK (other than a really gunked up water filter) but now I'm wondering if I might have dug up some small rocks. Boat (08 211TE) seems fine above about 20mph, but at lower speeds seems more vibration than I remembered (and these days that's not saying much :-) from last year. Trailer is a pain to get out of storage. Water is maybe mid 40's? Boat is in 30" of water (plus a few inches of silt). Lots of potentially skin mangling debris like broken bottles on bottom as well.

Has anyone tried laying on platform and leaning over underwater? If I wear leather gloves would I likely be able to feel any damage big enough to make a difference? Would I even be able to reach the prop?

My underwater camera stuff isn't really functional anymore. Wonder if a cheap P&S from Target would work well enough?

Any suggestions to keep my body out of the water appreciated.

[CAN'TSKI]

I had to jump in the water in my shorts a month ago to untangle the rope I ran over. Cold as ****. You guys up North that know I am in SoTex, quit laughing. The water is cold to us.
In the water, I can hold the edge of the 211 swim platform and, stretching out underwater, I can feel the prop. I don't believe you can reach it and stay dry.
See if a friend has a dry suit you can borrow. If the boat is vibrating at all, most likely you have bent a blade.
Go ahead and invest in an extra prop to put on while your old one is getting fixed. The extra comes in handy.
Also, I don't believe you can be underwater and get the prop off without a prop-puller. My dealer lets me borrow one because I am such a great prop customer.
WAIT WAIT WAIT!!! Light bulb. Take off the swim platform.
Dang, I am way too smart to crank 4 or 5 props a year.

[DanielC]

If your prop has not ever been straightened, it will have some sharp edges on it. You could very easily cut yourself just feeling the prop blades.
I would suggest you get your trailer out. Get a spare prop, also.

[SkiTower]

I can JUST barely reach my prop with my head above water while I'm IN the water, and I have long arms. I'd take the time to get the trailer out. Can't say I'd want to remove a platform in the water, hard enough on land.

"It's amazing when people don't have enough time to do it right but have enough time to do it twice." Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[Mikeski]

I would go to the local dive shop and rent a 5MM suit with mask, hood, gloves and booties. Get in the water and survey the boat.

[gride300]

pay some dumb young kid to get in the water for you

[CAN'TSKI]

Gride300, you are a lot smarter than I. As many times as I've dropped a sawbuck on some kid to do my dirtywork, I can't believe I missed that.

[harddock]

anyone on your water with a boatlift? maybe they could allow you five minutes to check it out.

[saceone]

pay some dumb young kid to get in the water for you

hahahah GOLD.

[SkiTundra]

Don't know anyone on the lake with a lift, but that's a great idea. I bit the bullet and climbed in and couldn't really tell much from feeling it with a leather glove on and didn't really want to do it bare handed so I think I'm going to get the trailer and pull it out and put my spare prop (the original that came on the boat) on if needed. Assuming I'll have future opportunities to change props I might as well get the tools. Can someone tell me what all I'll need?

Thanks,

[SkiTower]

needle-nosed pliers for the cotter pin (and maybe a new cotter pin)
wrench for the nut (can't remember the size)
prop-puller (worth the small investment)

[AirTool]

Be sure the cotter pin is stainless steel.

When I pulled my prop for the first time, I changed the SS key out for a nice soft brass key.

[Flipside]

I ran into some floating small branches last week. There was a bad vibration above 20 mph. When I took the boat out of the water there was no obvious issue with the prop. Took it in for repair and one blade was 1-2 mm off. This was enough to cause the vibration. Point being, a simple visual inspection may not do it. You'll need to take it off and put it on a flat surface if there is no obvious sign of damage.