Prop Change

[Studman]

Anyone change out a prop in the water?
I really don't want to do a short haul and have a way where and can almost beach the stern and in very low water change out the prop
Anyone see any reason not to do this beside dropping something into the water? I mean it's no big deal if the spline gets wet is it?
I would put plenty of grease on both the spline and in the hub, I can't see it taking anymore then 30 mins or so, thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Loneranger]

I have changed my props in the water several times. It is actually easier for me to do so in waist high water than to do it with the boat in my lift from the work platform.

John

 

[Studman]

I have changed my props in the water several times. It is actually easier for me to do so in waist high water than to do it with the boat in my lift from the work platform.

John

Thanks

 

[Bob & Sue]

I haven't myself know a couple of folks that have with no problems standing on the swim ladder. Their advise when I changed mine on the work rack was to buy the floating BII prop wrench any prop shop or online dealer sells them which I did now it's taped to the spare prop aboard the boat just in case.

 

[Ten Years Gone]

I mean it's no big deal if the spline gets wet is it? I would put plenty of grease on both the spline and in the hub...

Huh? Me thinks the spline is ALWAYS wet! But here's a tip if you can get the prop shaft completely out of the water. Cover that bad boy in Mercruiser 101 Special Lube. It's the gooey green Teflon based stuff. It sticks like crazy to anything it's applied to...and hates water like a finely waxed paint job. You can take a prop off the shaft over and over and that stuff just stays on! I highly recommend it...and so does the Merc service manual. Well for my Alpha anyway. YMMV.

 

[Westie]

I've had to change a prop on an alpha drive while in the water a couple of times after spinning a hub. Both times were in about 50 of water at the time with about a 1 foot chop. First time I floated behind the boat in the dingy the second time was after I installed a swim platform so I just lay on it. It helps if you have done one before on land so you know what is going on. Be very careful with the thrust washer behind the prop, sometimes it will want to stay with the prop as you pull it off.

Interesting to note on the special lube 101 on the prop shaft, I've always used Engine Coupler Spline Grease even on my Alpha drive. On a bravo 3 the reccomendation is for Engine coupler spline grease.

 

[chandalen]

+1 for this being easy to do. Of course easier if your in waist high water, but not required. Make sure to have the tools needed on board. Also, have an extra nut and thrust washer, and nut lock washer just in case. If in deep water, I'd suggest making sure the old and new props are attached to something incase an un expected wake slips your grip on the prob and if falls out of your hands.

The green spline lube is amazing and damn near impossible to take off of anything.

Also, remember to engage the drive in forward or reverse as needed to lock the prop so you can loosen / tighten the nut.