I fish the rivers alot and as we know its tough on equipment. i have aluminum props now but always seem to break the blades on submerged logs, rocks, etc and have to get them fixed. How much tougher are the stainless steel props than aluminum? Will they still break and bend easily or are they worth the extra $$? i have a 115 Optimax and am careful but still fix a couple props a year. any advice would be appreciated before i purchase.
You will get better performance out of Stainless and they are tougher, but when you hit something hard something has to give. You might end up with a more expensive repair if the prop does not give. Bent shaft,……
Good luck with this decision
That’s why i love this site! i never thought about that and it makes sense. It sure would make a $60 prop repair look cheap. Thanks.
I think you might be paying too much to have your prop fixed at $60.00 too. Just another thought. 
FDR
I was looking for a past post which someone had a place to ship the prop to and get repaired for $30-$35 but i cannot find it. This last prop from Saturday broke the tips on all three blades so this one might be junk.
Yes stainless has better performance BUT stainless is also harder so if you hit something with a stainless compared to aluminum the stainless tends to break-off bigger chunks of blade because aluminum has more give. Fishing the river…stick to aluminum…Just my .02 worth…RR
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Yes stainless has better performance BUT stainless is also harder so if you hit something with a stainless compared to aluminum the stainless tends to break-off bigger chunks of blade because aluminum has more give. Fishing the river…stick to aluminum…Just my .02 worth…RR
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You will get better performance out of Stainless and they are tougher, but when you hit something hard something has to give. You might end up with a more expensive repair if the prop does not give. Bent shaft,……
Good luck with this decision
I’m in the same boat as you. I just had a chance to talk with a prop repair guy up on LOTW… I ran the same idea to him and he said the same as above.
Something has to give. Bent shaft,leaking seals, trashed lower unit.
If you weren’t doing the river all the time it might be a worth while thing to do.
I bent two props last year that could be fixed and scrapped one other. Rough year on the river.
How should we say in some ways the “Off roading of boating”?
Good luck
I tend to disagree with what has been said so far. I fish the river 90% of the time and would MUCH rather have the stainless prop. Aluminum is just way too soft and tends to break off way too easily. The stainless props can take a lot more punishment and does not break nearly as easily. Contrary to what most people who run aluminum think, you are not necessarily going to ruin your lower unit if you hit something with a stainless prop. I have hit rocks, logs, stumps, you name it with my stainless and the motor and the prop are no worse for wear. I also have an aluminum prop that hit 1 stump and it is toast. The blades are torn and seriously rolled over. I don’t have that problem with the stainless Like I said, I can’t imagine not running stainless on the river.
I agree with Amwatson I will run nothing but stainless on the river. Running the river I have never had my stainless rebiult on my last boat in fifteen years. Thats hitting logs stumps sand mud weeds at WOT, and even a few rocks at slow speeds. Hit a good sand bar at speed with an aluminum it`s toast. Maybe running up north where there are a ton of rock and only rock I may rethink my postion. But stainless, stainless, stainless will all I ever will run on the river.
Interesting…i’m thinking the stainless with still bend or break before the lower unit is damaged. i mean i have broken blades on aluminum mostly on wood and i’m not being reckless either. I had to fix 3 props last year on sand or logs which i think the stainless would hold up. This site is so great for getting quality feedback.
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I tend to disagree with what has been said so far. I fish the river 90% of the time and would MUCH rather have the stainless prop.
Stainless for me as well. Aluminum props are much too fragile for where and how I fish.
I am completely sold on SS props. I really do feel that my boat’s performance is better, and I get a few more MPH with SS, too. I truly believe in SS props and will never go back to aluminum. I don’t fish rivers at all down here in NE, but if I did….I’m sure I’d still have SS!
This is my 4th year with stainless…I’ve heard all the bent shaft ect. comments…for 4 years.
And this will be my fourth year with my fingers crossed. 
I’m on the same page as Wats, S/S all the way! I even run a S/S on my 25 hp merc.
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Contrary to what most people who run aluminum think, you are not necessarily going to ruin your lower unit if you hit something with a stainless prop. I have hit rocks, logs, stumps, you name it with my stainless and the motor and the prop are no worse for wear.
Ditto. And I have hit some of that stuff hard. Busted off a few skegs, spun a couple hubs, but never bent a prop shaft or ruin gears/seals.
-J.
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