Prop Clearance on Trailer

[Texan1554]

Anything I can do as far as angle of the bunks or some other remedy to increase the clearance of my prop to my prop guard on the trailer? It gets way too tight for my comfort level. I'm running a power prop right now, not sure the actual specs as it came on the boat when I bought it. Have a shorelandr trailer.

[chris196]

I actually decreased the clearance on my prop guard. I have a sloped drive and needed the extra clearance from the guard to the cement.
How much is too close for you?
I did this a few years ago, but from memory I want to say I had about 5-6 inches of clearance from bottom of prop to guard and reduced it to 2-3.
This was on a 1998 SN on a Dorsey trailer.

[Texan1554]

As it is right now it sits .5 inch - 1.5 inches off the guard. It has been a concern of mine since I got the boat, and one I asked many questions about during the purchase. That said, the boat has been on this trailer since it left the lot in 03. The bigger prop was put on maybe 3-4 years ago. I put maybe 50 hrs on the boat last year with this setup and no problems. That includes a few 150+ mile weekend trips.

There have been a time or two, including last trip out where I had someone else crank the boat up and left it within a quarter inch of the nose catch. I went back to pull the plug and I had maybe a centimeter clearance.... that is too close for comfort. Yes, that quarter inch off the catch gets me back my normal clearance but still. Just don't want it to cost me a new prop one of these days.

[mdvalant]

Throw some thicker bunks on, layer another 2X4 on the top of your others and re-carpet or grab a 4X4

[TRBenj]

If it is a physical impossibility for the prop to come into contact with the guard, then who cares if its 1/8" or 10"? If it cant hit, it cant hit, right? Wouldnt the bunk have to break for this to be an issue? At that point, you'll have bigger problems.

[east tx skier]

This is my old MC. I think I measured 3/8" worth of clearance (both before and after I had the guard beefed up). It was never a problem for the prop.

[Texan1554]

If it is a physical impossibility for the prop to come into contact with the guard, then who cares if its 1/8" or 10"? If it cant hit, it cant hit, right? Wouldnt the bunk have to break for this to be an issue? At that point, you'll have bigger problems.

In theory, yes.... But honestly I never thought the prop could get as tight as it did the other day. But there it was.

[Texan1554]

Throw some thicker bunks on, layer another 2X4 on the top of your others and re-carpet or grab a 4X4

This is probably the solution, just throwing it out there and seeing what people have done/say.

[TRBenj]

In theory, yes.... But honestly I never thought the prop could get as tight as it did the other day. But there it was.

Its close then... so what? Personally, Id only be concerned if it could hit. If a scenario exists where it could hit, then by all means, address it. If not, then leave as much clearance under the guard as you can. Thats a well designed trailer!

Id rather have minimal clearance between the prop and guard as opposed to 10" of unnecessary clearance there, and having to worry about dragging the prop guard all over the place.

[TX-Foilhead]

If its getting closer then you might want to check the bunks, they may need replacing. They'll squish down over time as they become old and start to deteriorate.

I have touched a piece of square tube that was used on my ramp as a stop, same thing that would happen if you hit the prop guard. It did hurt the prop, just barely flattened the tips of all the blades. It did knock it off the tapper and it eventually spit out the key, I was using the castle nut at the time, and I had to get towed in by one of the neighbors a few months later. When we got it out of the water a figured out what happened I was relieved because it though the Vdrive or the tranny let go and I wanted another prop anyway.

[jmo]

i see why the minimal clearance bothers you, are you powerloading the boat onto the trailer? I always guide it on by hand and then winch it the rest of the way.

on the idea of doubling up the bunk boards to raise you up roughly 2 inches, keep in mind you have now raised the center of gravity on your rig which may affect stability and you will need to drop the trailer deeper into the water to float it off when you launch and retrieve.

JMO

[jimmyj]

doesnt seeem like an issue at all to me. by the time the prop gets that far, the hull is riding on the bunks. physically impossible to hit the prop, least thats the way it seems in my head. just dont see how it possible. prop is x distance from hull, bunks stay the same height with maybe a possible carpet matting over time. i can gaurantee since 03, you have worn those babies out as much as theyll go without needing replacement. after 9 years, no issues..... putting another bunk on top is goig to change everythying, down to how the bow rides against the bow stop. would put it way to high, imo. but you appear **** bent on changing something so have at it. get a sledge hammer and beat the piss out of the guard and bend it some. seems about as good as an idea as putting another bunk on. you could simply recarpet with some super thick stuff. thatll give you about 1/4" more.

[Texan1554]

No power loading, and definitely not bent on doing anything if I don't need to, just asking around. Bunks are good, and yes they have been replaced since 03 but just not altered in any way. A thicker layer of carpet would be good. I'm wary of the 2x4 add for the reasons stated.

I'll be able to get a better look at things this weekend.