Who carries a spare prop?

[SloBurn]

I had to get towed in on Sat. from Barnegat Bay to my transient marina slip in Ship Bottom, NJ due to what I thought was a broken engine coupler.
After traveling 10 miles or so in rough water, I suddenly heard a loud screaming, metallic (so I thought) sound. Boat came to a stop even though running fine. I could only move at 1-2 mph and eventually 0 mph, against a strong headwind. So, I thought I blew the coupler, but it turned out I spun the prop hub. I could've fixed it in the shallows of the bay and continued on, but I don't carry a spare... .
With thunder storms approaching, I flagged down a Good Samaritan who towed me in, as SeaTow wanted almost $700 to tow me!!
We got to the dock 3 minutes before the deluge began!
I run SS props and never had a problem. I used to carry a spare Alum prop when I used to run one, and sure could've used one on Sat.:smt021

 

[Do Over]

Don't they have Towboats.US in your area? Pretty cheap insurance per year for piece of mind with them.

 

[SloBurn]

I only go to Barnegat bay once a year, so no SeaTow or Towboat insurance, Towboat also quoted me >$500 for a tow, otherwise I'm in Greenwood Lake where the CG Auxiliary tows you for free. BTW, I didn't hit anything and was running in 8-10 ft. of water when this happened.

 

[Z-Worthy]

I always carried a spare aluminum prop on my center console. And I would even swap it back and forth between my SS prop depending on water level and amount of debris from storms and runoff. I'm a firm believer that anyone with a single should always have a spare prop and all hardware necessary to replace it if needed. Regardless, I would still NEVER leave my dock without a Towboat US membership.

 

[MonacoMike]

I always carried a spare aluminum prop on my center console. And I would even swap it back and forth between my SS prop depending on water level and amount of debris from storms and runoff. I'm a firm believer that anyone with a single should always have a spare prop and all hardware necessary to replace it if needed. Regardless, I would still NEVER leave my dock without a Towboat US membership.

Fully agree. The tow insurance is cheap compared to the cost of a tow. If you trailer add on the trailer towing insurance foe $14.

MM

 

[Westie]

I used to carry a spare prop and hub when I had an alpha drive. Had to change it one time while hanging off the back of the swim platform after I spun a hub. Really helps to have done it on land beforehand.
Now that I have a bravo III drive I don't carry a spare set. Hard to justify over $1000 for a spare set of props.

 

[MonacoMike]

I used to carry a spare prop and hub when I had an alpha drive. Had to change it one time while hanging off the back of the swim platform after I spun a hub. Really helps to have done it on land beforehand.
Now that I have a bravo III drive I don't carry a spare set. Hard to justify over $1000 for a spare set of props.

I was disappointed that my 270 had a BII when I got it but love it more and more as I read more and more about the BIII over time. The BII is nearly bullet proof on a boat like mine and you can easily carry a spare prop.

MM

 

[takemboating]

40 years of boating, have carried a spare prop for almost all of them.

jv

 

[Mike Blake]

I have a R&L spare all the time. Never had to use them but they are there.

Mike

 

[1990-270-da-lover]

Carry a spare, and spare nut and washers, including the special tool to get the lock washer loose. Knock on wood, I have never had to use the spare, but you never know when you may need it. Also have Tow Boat US insurance, great peace of mind.

 

[Chris Nowell]

We usually do but this "new to us" boat didn't come with one and I'm still looking for a spare. Leaving for a cruise on Thursday so I've got 2 more days to find one (yea right!!!). Probably end up having to buy it new from the dealer.

 

[rcknecht]

With a SS prop it is more likely that you would spin your coupler, I did that after coming through the Delaware Bay. I have towing insurance through my boat insurance and it is very inexpensive. I would not carry a spare prop... If you buy one, next year you may get stuck with another problem, and the answer will be I wish I had tow insurance... Check with our insurer, and see what is would cost... I think it is only 5 or 10 dollars a year for me for $500 in tow insurance...

 

[Lazy Daze]

My single prop boats, yes, I carry a spare. Bravo III - no, I do not. Partly for the price, but I also figure that since those props have no hub, and given how beefy they are, if I hit something hard enough where both props are rendered absolutely useless then I've likely done even more damage further upstream and shouldn't run the engine at all.

 

[KC_Sundancer]

I carry 2 spare aluminum's, a floating wrench, 2 sets of nuts/washers and the tapered washer that goes on first.
Water is a parts magnet and the props do no good without the hardware.
Tow service is non-existent up here and I want to be able, at the very least, limp in.

 

[CliffA]

i carry a spare aluminum prop and spare set of hardware and a prop nut socket with pull bar......i switched to an aluminum prop after a SS prop caused the upper gears in my Alpha drive to strip when i hit some rocks..... a new 4 blade aluminum prop is only around $100 so there is no significant cost involved in carrying a spare prop for me....

if you do carry a spare prop and hardware don't forget to also carry a small piece of 2"x4" board to trap the blades of the prop against the cavitation plate of the outdrive so the prop nut can be unscrewed and /or tightened.....

i also have tow insurance but sometimes we take our boat to other lakes and the ICW that may not be in the coverage area....also i can change a prop in 15 mins if/when needed vs. taking a hour or two to be towed back to my home dock....

 

[Bob & Sue]

We have always carried a spare prop, a couple weeks ago we hit something I didn't notice it till I was taking all the crab gear off the boat on a work rack, the spare is on it now till I get the prop back from repair. Also have spare nut, washer and floating wrench with 6' of rope tied to it that attaches to the ladder.
We have BoatUS Vessel Assist and a Yacht policy they come standard with towing insurance but you need to pay up front. Look into Yacht policies instead of Boat insurance there's a lot more included with it like $864,000.00 in spill insurance, if your boat sinks you'll be paying a lot for oil & fuel containment, clean up & boat recovery. Our marina had a 20' bow rider sink last year from a hole in the bellows he had boat insured for $15,000.00 the cost of oil containment & a lift to float the boat was over $25,000.00 he lost his boat (totaled) and owed $10,000.00 for cleanup plus what he owed on the boat.
Ask a broker if he knows the difference between Boat & Yacht Insurance if he doesn't find a new one.

 

[MonacoMike]

With a SS prop it is more likely that you would spin your coupler, I did that after coming through the Delaware Bay. I have towing insurance through my boat insurance and it is very inexpensive. I would not carry a spare prop... If you buy one, next year you may get stuck with another problem, and the answer will be I wish I had tow insurance... Check with our insurer, and see what is would cost... I think it is only 5 or 10 dollars a year for me for $500 in tow insurance...

BoatUS says $250 per hour is the average tow rate. That $500 in your insurance policy isn't going far and you have to pay upfront to work to get reimbursed.

Get The tow insurance from the best tow company in your area it is cheap compared to a tow, although not ten bucks...

MM

 

[Bob & Sue]

BoatUS says $250 per hour is the average tow rate. That $500 in your insurance policy isn't going far and you have to pay upfront to work to get reimbursed.

Get The tow insurance from the best tow company in your area it is cheap compared to a tow, although not ten bucks...

MM

I had a 1 mile tow up a waterway to our marina Vessel Assist charged BoatUS $375.00 (broken shift cable at the fuel dock) , I've had Vessel Assist thru BoatUS since we bought the boat, we have the Gold Premium Plan which covers you to your homeport if needed they also will to you from your homeport to a repair facility, bring you fuel if you run out and give you a jump if your batteries are dead. I think we pay $175 a year cheap in my opinion we also have tow insurance on our yacht policy up to $1500.00 at zero cost.

 

[Banagy]

Spare s.s. prop thrown in to seal the when I purchased the boat new.

 

[BlewByYou88]

^^^^ This guy carries 2 Spare aluminum props....always. My SS props have the flow torque hubs, so if I hit something, I won't trash the drive, or coupler, or engine....like I did once upon a time in my younger days...