How big do prop dings need to be before you get them repaired?

So the one time I didn’t use my electronics on a new body of water and I idled into unmarked shallow water and my SS prop dinged some rocks. The damage is very small, but if I don’t get the dings repaired will it negatively impact my motor at all?

Pictures below, for reference purposes, the gash width is about the size of the tip of my pinky finger…The other picture is of a very slight bend in the tip of the blade.

Should I just grind them out a bit myself or take it to a prop shop?

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If it were mine, I would have them fixed.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Pictures below, for reference purposes, the gash width is about the size of the tip of my pinky finger…The other picture is of a very slight bend in the tip of the blade.
Should I just grind them out a bit myself or take it to a prop shop?

The damage appears to be slight. I would not be concerned with this negatively affecting the motor. You might experience a very slight drop in performance, probably not enough to even notice.
If you can feel a vibration that wasn’t there before the damage, then yes, take it in to a prop shop.

I wouldn’t touch it with a grinder. Personally, I’d just take some emery paper and hand sand to slightly ease the edges of the dinged area .

Just file her down till you trash it worse,after its rebuilt it will never be the same

I wouldnt get it rebuilt unless, you feel vibration, you significanltly lose or gain rpm’s, a signinicant loss of speed or power, or if your hole shot is negatively effected. What make and hp is your outboard? The other things to check are your trim tab, skeg, and most importantly probably your prop shaft. If your prop shaft is bent your seals could be damaged which could allow water into your lower units gear case. I would let motor sit without moving for a day and drain a small amount of gear lube out of the bottom vent/drain. If it is cloudy you probably have h2o in your gear lube. This would need attention! This all said, ive wrecked props much worse than this and not had further damage. Side note, the guy who has rebuilt a lower unit or two for me over the years likes to say this. “You bass guys will drive a boat up your Mother’s bu** if you thought youd find bass there”. Always makes me giggle. And dont feel too bad about this mishap, most of us have done something like this. Especially if you ofter fish the River or new waters. I did it this Spring up by Ely. I also keep low deductable on my boat insurance just for things like this.