STAINLESS STEEL OR ALUMINUM?

I NEED TO REPLACE MY PROP ON AN ’89 30HP YAMAHA. I HAVE IT ON AN ’89 MR. PIKE REBEL WHICH IS RATED FOR A 70 OR 75HP. I CURRENTLY HAVE A DINGED UP 9 7/8 X 13 ALUMINUM 3 BLADER. IS IT WORTH MY WHILE TO GO TO A STAINLESS STEEL PROP FOR $200 OR STAY WITH ALUMINUM AT $99. WOULD THERE BE A SIGNIFICANT BENIFIT IN PERFORMANCE SINCE I AM UNDER POWERED AND DO I STAY WITH SAME PITCH? WOULD THERE BE AN RPM DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE METALS AT THE SAME PITCH AT TOP SPEED. I CURRENTLY GET 35 MILE PER HOUR BY MYSELF IN THE BOAT ACCORDING TO MY DEPTHFINDER, AND 29 MPH ACCORDING TO MY GPS. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE

If you get on a plane good, I wouldnt spend the extra money.

With a 30 you will not notice any benefit from a SS prop.

Riggy, if you fishing an area where hitting submerged structure is always a possibility then I would say go with a stainless prop. I have a stainless prop on a 35hp Mariner. Running pool 7, I am always bumping into structure, i.e. stumps, logs, & wingdams/rock. In those kinds of conditions a stainless is worth its weight in gold. An aluminum just won’t cut it when dealing with stuff like that.

On the other hand….it’s cheaper ($99) to replace or repair an aluminum prop than to repair a lower end. My neighbor, hit something with his SS prop. Bent the shaft and popped a couple teeth out of a gear. $1300.

I have a ss prop…and although it looks sharp on the motor…if I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t spend the $300 for the used prop, I would stick to the aluminum and lost the 2 mph the stainless gives me. (personal opinion)

If we were raceing fishing boats….I would reconsider

I would stick with an aluminum prop on the river. When you hit something (and you will) something has to absorb the shock. Aluminum props excel at this. Stainless props transfer the energy to your lower unit which can be a lot more costly than fixing or replacing a prop.

My two cents.

Gator Hunter

Here’s another vote for aluminum ONLY if you fish water that will continually ding your prop.

To all who have commented. I am getting a boat hopefully this week. It has a 50 hp 4 stroke Yamaha that comes standard with an aluminum prop. From your comments I think aluminun is the way to go. My question is do you carry a spare prop in the boat or your tow vehicle, just in case?

it would be wise to carry an extra one. you need a wrench also.

Get a composite prop for a spare. They are less expensive.

Thanks for the advice.

Not only a spare prop and wrench…but I carry two extra nuts, (no comments here ) two extra cotter pins.

My middle name is clutz…because I don’t want to get into the water to change these!

THANKS GUYS FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ALUMINUM IT IS.