Boat prop: stainless, 4 or 3 blade,pitch?

Keep in mind that a prop with even minor damage can throw the balance/resistance off, which can very quickly do damage to the gearcase, and possibly the powerhead as well. Way too often, prop shaft damage is done after the initial impact, when the boater continues running with a damaged prop – even just to limp back to the dock, or not being aware that prop damage occurred. The boater blames the prop material or the hub system for the damage to the gearcase, when it was running an out of balance prop that actually damaged the prop shaft or gearcase.
It takes a fairly solid strike on hard material to damage stainless, whereas contact with sand or small limbs can easily bend an aluminum ear. There is a reason pro boaters use stainless – it holds it’s shape FAR better than aluminum, and the hub system will work as designed to absorb a good portion of the shock of an impact. The hub system cannot accommodate for spinning an out of balance prop – the gearcase absorbs 100% of any imbalance, and since there is no “give” in the system (solid shaft supported by bearings,) damage occurs very quickly.

Local dealer looked at the damaged prop and said to run it this weekend. If it shakes and has issues a friend that’ll be with in another boat has a spare we can change to. New one will be in next week and then this one can get sent for refurb.

Consider the 4 blade SOLAS stainless prop. I have a Mercury 115 and the prop works fine. Lund 1775 Impact. 40mph. Price is less than Mercury props. Works just fine.

Also on a side note about the Merc X7 Spitfire

X7 is 30% stronger and four times more durable than conventional stainless steel

The easiest way to tell if a stainless prop is better in the long run is the fact that every single person that makes their living with an outboard has a stainless prop on it.

Nuff Said!!!