Prop Guard

[polydriver]

Does anyone have a prop guard fitted to their outboard?
I am thinking of fitting one to my 50hp OB as I am going to be in rivers where there are lots of trees etc.
Do they make any diff to performance etc.
More importantly... do they work in protecting the prop from damage?

[Needmorerum]

Dunno Polydriver, but alot of the rescue boats and surf life saving boats have them. There only using them agains sand, but it has to do something surely. Not sure about the performance side of things, I wouldn't think that they would change to much if at all.
I'll follow this with interest as you don't see to many around, but oh how good they would be when exploring areas you don't know.

Corry

[bungie]

Surely rescue boats and surf life saving boats have them because of dragging people in over the side and not needing to kill the motors and endanger the boat and crew ?

[basserman]

as i have heard
yes they can protect the prop but then again nothing is gunna protect you prop at full flight into a sumerged tree ;) but would offer some protection as for preformance i have heard that they do inprove it slightly as it uses the prop wash better

[Needmorerum]

Surely rescue boats and surf life saving boats have them because of dragging people in over the side and not needing to kill the motors and endanger the boat and crew ?

This would be part of the reason also Bungie, I'm not 100% sure, but I think if conditions allow, IE not in the middle of a breaking surf, then I think the rescue boats shut their motors off. The gaurds they use are circular with the three supports, and wouldn't do much if you put your hand or toe/foot into it. I do know that they still suck ropes and leg straps into them, causes some problems when they are in the surf.

Corry

[bungie]

Sorry, I thought they were more like a cage :)

[polydriver]

I found this reference to them on the Solas web site and on a few others, but of course they sell them so they are going to give them a good wrap. The are not cheap at $300+ so wanted some views on them first. These ones are circular as shown in picture. I can remember some cage type ones years ago but they were on small outboards.

[blaze]

Hi Polydriver
Seen one made by a guy once, same design as the one pictured but did not have the split around it but more of a honey combe effect. Long story short
He idle to the end of the 6 knot zone and power up to go onto the plane, hugmungest bang and idled back to ramp.
prop minus 2 1/2 blades as the shield had sucked in onto the prop
cheers
blaze

[Spaniard_King]

Polydriver,

we are using the SOLAS ones at my work, they load up ya steering and take some power off ya boat.
We dropped our pitch by 3 inches to get the engines to perform.

Personally. I would save my money for a stainless prop and then save for prop repairs ;D

Garry