How to Refurbish a Boat Prop Yourself
Boat owners often chose to do as much maintenance and repair as possible in order to keep costs manageable. Prop repair is not usually one of the items possible for amateurs to accomplish. It requires precision and skill to attain the right angles and shape. However, the actual steps are not that hard. With some practice, a dedicated owner could become proficient at prop repair and save a great deal of money on this very important piece of equipment.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Prop holder
- Vice
- Hammer
- Grinder
- Grinding wax
- Solder
- Soldering iron
- Bent Blades
- Hand rasp
- Buffing pad
Instructions
-
-
1
Buy the appropriate size and pitch prop block for your propeller. This is a molded form that matches the shape and bend of your blades so you can hammer out bends or twists that do not conform to the original shape.
-
2
Hold the propeller in a vice using a spindle that runs through the center of the prop that can be locked into a rigid stand, or allowed to spin on the prop's hub.
-
-
3
Place the blade block behind the damaged blade, and hammer the bend into place, following the shape of the original blade.
-
4
Apply grinding wax to the blade of the grinder. Prop metal is soft and will build up in the rasps of the grinding blade without the wax, which keeps it from adhering.
-
5
Use a grinder to smooth the edge of the blade. Fill nicks, cracks and uneven surfaces using a soldering iron and solder. Grind smooth again. Finish with a hand rasp to sharpen and smooth the edges of the blade.
-
6
Measure the blade from the base at the center of the blade to the center of the tip and from the widest part of the blade, side to side. Compare the measurements to the measurements of the other blades.
-
7
Reverse the prop on the prop holder and vice grip. Grind and smooth the back surface of the blade. Apply a buffing pad to the grinder and buff the prop to a shine.
-
8
Let the prop spin free and watch for balance problems. This is a tricky area that makes prop repair difficult for amateurs. Balance is vital. An unbalanced prop can cause cavitations that cause discomfort in the ride, and can also cause mechanical problems, and even broken seals that allow oil leaks.
-
9
Stop the prop at various spots of its spin to see if it will stay put, or if the weight of one of the blades continues to pull it down. If one blade is heavier than the others it will always end up at the bottom of the spin instead of staying where it is stopped.
-
10
Identify heavy areas in the propeller spin. Mark the heavy blade in the middle and grind it to remove some of the thickness.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always remove excess metal from a prop during balancing from the back of the blade. The curve and pitch of the back of the blade is unimportant. The front of the blade (facing out from the boat) must be perfectly shaped.
References
- Photo Credit propeller image by Gonçalo Carreira from Fotolia.com
