On Tue, 1 Jul 2008 11:40:32 -0700 (PDT), "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I've seen in several sources that you should remove your prop when
setting up for winter. Why is that? Also I'm curious why you grease
the prop shaft.Is that to prevent rust?

Well, think it through.

You pull the prop for winter, you have to cover the prop shaft with
something - plastic bag, some tape and it's not terrible secure unless
you wrap the whole lower unit. Then in the Spring, remove the plastic
and tape, grease the prop shaft and reinstall the prop.

On the other than, you leave the prop on, cover the prop exhaust with
a wide piece of duct tape (or two pieces), then in the Spring, pull
the prop, grease the shaft and reinstall.

Which is easier?

I leave my prop on, use some heat shrink tape to cover the exhaust,
pull the prop in the Spring, grease and reinstall - takes five minutes
and I don't have to do more than that. Been doing that forever.

With respect to theft, if you store the boat at your house, then theft
isn't really a problem. If you store the boat elsewhere, the storage
facility will probably want the lower unit removed and stored
separately - that's what is going to be stolen because that's the most
vulnerable and the most sought after used part.

Remind me to tell you how I sold my 2000 FICHT sometime.

It was an amazing experience.