Changing a prop hub in the water

[beernutz]

Saturday as we were approaching the no wake zone near the launch where we put in my prop hub broke. We had been miles away most of the day but luckily it broke right at the end of our trip and only a few hundred feet from the launch. Even more lucky is that I was boating with a friend the entire day who towed us to the launch.

Seeing how very lucky I was I decided not to tempt fate again and will get a spare prop, prop hub, and floating prop wrench to keep in the boat. I am wondering how difficult it would be to change the prop or hub out while in the water? What else would I need to bring with me to attempt this? I keep a diving mask and snorkel on boat for fun but I guess it might also come in handy for such an occasion. What would I need to have on board to keep the prop from spinning while I used the wrench? Is there some product out there which would help me do this?

Coincidentally the person who towed me to the launch had previously been stranded overnight a long time ago in the same place (Mobile Delta near the Dolly Parton bridge) we'd been all day because of a broken prop.

 

[chumbley]

Keep a spare nut and lock washer too. Because they don't float, even if the wrench does!

It's been years since I changed a prop, but as I recall you can put the outdrive in gear (fwd or rev) to keep the prop from turning as you tighten or loosen the nut.

 

[beernutz]

Keep a spare nut and lock washer too. Because they don't float, even if the wrench does!

It's been years since I changed a prop, but as I recall you can put the outdrive in gear (fwd or rev) to keep the prop from turning as you tighten or loosen the nut.

Good point! I'll get a spare of each of those too.

 

[Nehalennia]

Just keep a small block of wood with you to keep the prop turning in the cavitation plate. I've changed props in the water. It's not fun but doable. Just lift the OD up to the trailer position and be deliberate and cafeful. Keep the tools in the boat and ask someone to be your surgical assistant.

 

[kpetry]

Just keep a small block of wood with you to keep the prop turning in the cavitation plate. I've changed props in the water. It's not fun but doable. Just lift the OD up to the trailer position and be deliberate and cafeful. Keep the tools in the boat and ask someone to be your surgical assistant.

+1, no big deal. If you can go through the process once on dry land before hand (next time you pull out) it will help familiarize you with the parts and the process. Things seem to look/feel different underwater sometimes.

 

[beernutz]

Thanks for the tips. I've got to change out the broken hub this week which will be the first time I've taken the prop off. Doing that should help remove some of the mystery of the process.

 

[Nehalennia]

Usually prop hubs won't break unless you hit something. Did you hit a shoal or stick or something?

 

[dpmulvey]

I'm assuming this is on your 190. No place to haul her up a ramp? 20 minute job on land as you are not fighting the water.

 

[Scottbenson]

I carry a spare and change it a lot since my spare is a lower pitch and I swap props to meet my pulling or cruising needs. I have changed the prop many times by backing in a slip and putting the drive in the trailer position. Just keep a death grip on your prop when you are ready to remove it so you dont drop it in the water. I have also considered tying a small diameter safety line around it in case I dropped it. I do this alone and can change it in under two minutes tops. My tools are: Steel 1/2 inch drive ratchet, socket and short extension, 8" needle nose pliers and a piece of wood 2X4X6 to wedge against the prop and drive to keep it from spinning. I almost never use the wood though because I find it easier to just hold the prop while I back off the lock nut. I also keep on board an emergency plastic floating prop wrench but only use it for emergency because I don't think it would hold up well for very many loosenings. It seems like it would strip out easily. I also keep my splines and hub well lubed with waterproof grease so the prop never is stuck on and slides off easily.

I have also changed the prop in open water two times. I put the drive in trailer position, put on my life vest so I could float easily, had a person in the boat hand me one tool at a time and had no problems either. I would also suggest you have any other people in the boat sit in the bow area to raise the stern to max elevation. This wouldn't be any fun in very cold water, but it sure beats being stranded.

After you pull your prop off I'm sure you will be thinking "Wow, that was much easier than I thought". If you take it off a couple of times each year and re-lube, you should have no problems.

 

[beernutz]

Usually prop hubs won't break unless you hit something. Did you hit a shoal or stick or something?

No I didn't hit anything. We had been running for several miles at 30+mph and when we got back to the no wake zone near the launch I took it down to neutral and it broke.

I don't know the history of the boat but the prop appears to be the original BlackMax that came with it and the hub may be original to the boat as well, which would make 10 years old.

 

[beernutz]

I carry a spare and change it a lot since my spare is a lower pitch and I swap props to meet my pulling or cruising needs. I have changed the prop many times by backing in a slip and putting the drive in the trailer position. Just keep a death grip on your prop when you are ready to remove it so you dont drop it in the water. I have also considered tying a small diameter safety line around it in case I dropped it. I do this alone and can change it in under two minutes tops. My tools are: Steel 1/2 inch drive ratchet, socket and short extension, 8" needle nose pliers and a piece of wood 2X4X6 to wedge against the prop and drive to keep it from spinning. I almost never use the wood though because I find it easier to just hold the prop while I back off the lock nut. I also keep on board an emergency plastic floating prop wrench but only use it for emergency because I don't think it would hold up well for very many loosenings. It seems like it would strip out easily. I also keep my splines and hub well lubed with waterproof grease so the prop never is stuck on and slides off easily.

I have also changed the prop in open water two times. I put the drive in trailer position, put on my life vest so I could float easily, had a person in the boat hand me one tool at a time and had no problems either. I would also suggest you have any other people in the boat sit in the bow area to raise the stern to max elevation. This wouldn't be any fun in very cold water, but it sure beats being stranded.

After you pull your prop off I'm sure you will be thinking "Wow, that was much easier than I thought". If you take it off a couple of times each year and re-lube, you should have no problems.

Thanks very much for that detailed post Scott. I have printed it out and will leave it with my spare prop parts in the boat!

 

[beernutz]

I'm assuming this is on your 190. No place to haul her up a ramp? 20 minute job on land as you are not fighting the water.

Right it is the 190 and I'll be changing the hub on land this time, however, I was just thinking ahead should this ever happen again when I was miles away from a launch.