"Josh Assing" wrote
My gut says that the clearance is so small that it's
begging for damage from a twig in the water.

Twigs care not for clearance. I have about an inch between my prop and
cavitation plate (which, I must point out is technically an anti-ventilation
plate). I hit a small twig a couple years ago and took a big chunk out of
said plate. http://users.adelphia.net/~blizzard3...ges/break2.jpg