Destroyed my first prop!

[Corey Tolle]

Well, after 30 plus years of being a Nautique owner, I destroyed my first prop. I own a 2014 G21, and today decided to venture into a small cove to get out of the wind. I was going along at idle speed, and evidentially hit a rock bed that the GPS map didn't show, and the depth finder didn't pick up. I have to say, it was the most haunting sound I've heard, and from the sound of it I was thinking there was a lot more damage!! Upon pulling out that boat and examining, there was zero damage to the hull, but it did knock a golf ball size gouge in the tracking fin (which now I know is what hit first) and curled up the ends of all the prop blades. So here is my question... First, would it be worth trying to have the prop fixed or just get a new one (pics attached)? Second, not knowing the extent of any other mechanical damage, should I take it to a Nautique dealer and have them give everything a look? I can also have them replace the tracking fin while it's in there. I will say that once the prop made contact with the rock, it was going at idle speed and killed the engine. Knowing better, I never gave it any more throttle than just about idle to get out of the area. Once out in the open, it actually ran fine back to the ramp, with a fair bit of vibration obviously coming from the damaged prop. Just don't want to assume all mechanical components are in line and replace the prop and tracking fin, only to end up with more damage. Thanks in advance!!

[ally505]

thats not destroyed, an easy repair for a good prop repair outfit. It will come back as good or better than new.

[Kenboat]

I agree it is a easy repair. May be ok to repair the prop and keep running the boat this summer and get the tracking fin fixed in the fall.

[jpwhit]

If you call OJ and buy a new prop, they will repair the existing one for free. That's what I would do then keep the repaired one as a backup. With modern CNC'ed props, my experience is the repaired one won't be as good as new. It'll be good, but not as good as a new one.

Personally, I don't see any reason to take it to a dealer. Especially if the prop strike happened at idle. Nearly zero change of any any other damage. Just clean and rough edges of the tracking fin up with a file.

[Corey Tolle]

Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to buy a new prop while having the damaged one fixed, this way I will have a spare. Like the idea of buying a new OJ prop and having them repair the old one, will be looking into this (does it matter the current prop is an Acme?).

[jpwhit]

(does it matter the current prop is an Acme?).

Not sure, I suspect it doesn't, but just give them a call and ask. They are super helpful and friendly.

[Scooter G]

If you don't taint a prop, you're not boating enough, good share Corey. You start to get real gun shy after the second time it happens though.
jpwhit, good call on OJ, that's what we do. It is a comfort to have a backup spare prop in the boat, oh, and a good idea to throw in a prop puller. It's not always hitting the shallows that get you...

[MN Ryan]

"If you don't taint a prop, you're not boating enough."

Words to live by!

Last summer was a killer for me. Had a prop fixed over the winter of '20/'21. First trip of '21, that repaired prop made it less than 50 yards from the landing. I ordered a new one and had that one repaired as a backup. Later that summer, my wife hit a rock with the new prop. That hit bent the root of the new prop, rendering it unrepairable, so I ordered another new one. So far, so good on this one. Fingers crossed.

Gun shy is right. I've gotten more selective about where we launch, and on the lake our cabin is on, I'll walk the boat out to safer water if the water level is low.

[Corey Tolle]

Ha! Good luck on that new prop! I've been fortunate, more or less stayed on the same lake most of my life. After moving to Missouri, we ventured into a new lake, and I got a bit comfortable with a cove that I noticed a pontoon boat in the day before. Didn't get a few feet in and boom. After the shock value has worn off, I now realize it's not that bad. I'm going to get the prop fixed and order a new one.

[Paul W]

I boat on a river that can get shallow in the dry summer months. It is already shallow to start with.
I have three props, one is on the boat, one is ready to go, one might be at the shop??
Don't always need them, but if you have to change out a prop and don't have one it's not a fun wait. The prop repair shops are 2 weeks to repair during summer.
I always use the anti-seize before I put the prop back on. Not fun getting a prop off that is seized on with different metals, in water. Acme Prop Puller is a must unless you have
a good gear puller that fits.
Using an impact wrench with long extensions is your friend to pull the prop with the prop puller. I would not change a prop out without one. If you have been looking at getting a battery impact, here is a good reason.

[2002sansac]

It's just going the happen. Not such a badly damaged prop.

[bturner]

Well..... it happened to me too this year after more than 12 years of "prop strike free" boating. I'm on a level controlled inland lake and the Drain Commissioner supposedly controls the level of our lake. Unfortunately this is an elected position and the talent (or lack there or in this case) is suspect at best. For the second time in the 22 years I've been boating on this lake they've allowed the lake to get nearly 2' below normal level which has exposed stumps and made nearly a third of the lake un-boatable. Unfortunately we're in part of that third that is now too shallow to use.

I figured it was risky to venture out but went anyway and managed to find a stump while idling out and then another on the way back to the lift in another location. Luckily I just have a couple bent blades that will need to be repaired which shouldn't be all that bad. While I'm at it I'll be looking into a new prop and will use this one, once repaired as the spare. I contacted Acme and they seem like really good people. The guy I talked to is going to see if we can find a better prop for the boat than what I currently have and has set up an RMA for my current prop. No deals though on repair with new prop.

Coming from being a long time MasterCraft owner I've always had OJ's, worked directly with Eric and have had excellent results with his prop recommendations. I'm still considering making the switch from Acme to OJ but wonder how everyone's experience has been making this switch. I've been very happy with the Acme prop on this boat but dollars are dollars these days and if I can save $250 of them (the estimate for the repair from Acme) and still get top level performance (which I feel I've had with my OJ props) I may go that direction.

The last ting that may delay my new prop purchase is the Acme 30 return policy. While this should be sufficient for anyone to test out a prop there's a real good chance my boating season is done on this lake for this year. I've become a bit of a puss when it comes to trailer boating and all that goes with that. I turn a wrench on a couple other boats so we have a seat on them most anytime and their lakes are still very much usable so given the choice I'll probably park mine until if/when the lake level comes back. Hard to believe that the season is pretty much over for my boat 6 weeks into the summer and only 14 hours of use to show for it.