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Josh Assing Josh Assing is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 201
Default Prop clearance specs?

I have a alpha1 gen II outdrive.
As some of you know; I'm trying to reprop -- found a shop nearby that
rents demo props. They gave mea 15" prop (diameter) but I didn't try it as the
clearance between the prop blade edge and the cavetation plate was less than a
wire-coat hanger.

They said "it improves performance, use it anyway" My gut says that the
clearance is so small that it's begging for damage from a twig in the water.

Two people (one I consider knowledgeable and one from a shop I use regularly)
said "that's not enough clearance, should be about 10% of the prop diameter"

To me - -this sounds reasonable.

So; since the shop with the demo props doesn't want (for unknown reasons) to
give me a 14 or 14.5 diameter prop, I'm stuck with buying a new one; for that
reason; I'm looking to the NG for people that have "almost no clearance" between
the blade & the cavetation plate to see real-world experiences.

We're talking a SS prop. If I guy a prop; I'll probably go with aluminum 1st
(cheaper) while I experiement and then go SS once I settle on size & pitch &
blade count.

Thanks
-j