fear of destoying new props

[skippy]

Seems like our props have been a major discussion on our boat. My husband has developed a fear of hitting something and destroying the brand new props we had to get as the old original brass ones had been compromised. But now the issue is he has developed a fear of the new ones getting damaged. We do not have a skeg or any other protection for these props. As he says - "They hang out there exposed". (plenty of comments on that statement).
As I have tried to reason with him- there are bigger boats in the same situation. just be vigilant. We of course have "touched" something or grounded but never much damage if any.

Any other suggestions. We are not starting another project so putting skegs on is out right now.

[a64pilot]

A big powerboat?
If so then he is right, just “bumping” the bottom can be horrendously expensive, those wheels and shafts are not cheap.

[senormechanico]

Not just a big power boat, a very NICE big powerboat.
Our next door neighbor used to own one.
He could only come and go at high tide though.
Now that house is owned by a dentist whose parents come to visit in their 68 footer !
How they can get past the dogleg in the lagoon entrance is beyond me.

[Shrew]

Don't worry about. navigate with caution.

[skippy]

That's the way i feel. be careful and cautious. We've had the boat 3 years and really never had a problem. But it's like a new car- park far away from everyone but sooner or later someone dings you.

thanks everyone

[zeehag]

know your depth.
use depth sounder.
avoid shallows..use a dinghy for those areas less deep than your boat. is why there is an anchor on the pointy end. oh yes and chain.
go out practice and have fun.

[LooseGoose]

Get the new Navionics $10 per year app to access crowd sourced actual reported depth sounder readings.....and plan your cruises accordingly. Very cool new technology.

[jamhass]

Forward looking sonar / fish finder?

[1000 islands]

Prop repair is an acceptable cost of power boating. Just as sail repair is part of sailing.... as my wife says, there's always something.

In the last 5 years I have had to send my props out for end of season repair 3 times.

Other than when I went aground, the cost is usually about $250. Not much for 6 months of enjoyment.

As my wife keeps reminding me, compare that with the cost of a hotel room for a weekend.

Cheers, and remember...........you are creating employment for somebody.

[billknny]

Originally Posted by LooseGoose

Get the new Navionics $10 per year app to access crowd sourced actual reported depth sounder readings.....and plan your cruises accordingly. Very cool new technology.

That "very cool technology" made me come as close to losing my boat as I ever have. Navionics SonarCharts is great for finding fishing holes and such, but for actually navigating? no, no and NO!

Do NOT trust it for navigating your boat. The data is unreviewed, and untrustworthy.

I know that the "official" charts do have their limitations. The update cycle is slow, and there are places where the data is sparse. But the SonarCharts are VERY seductive. They present a very precise view of the ocean floor. The problem is that, while it is deceptively precise, it is not at all accurate.

[Lepke]

If you pay attention to tides, stay out of shallow water, and avoid debris, you'll never hurt your props. I've been running twin screw all my life and never damaged a prop.
Most warships are twin screw, carriers are quadruple screw and they seem to keep their props. Their props are measured in feet. On some ships the props stick out beyond the ships side and you see screw guards.
Run a proper wheel watch.

[chuckr]

Sometimes stuff happens - we have been up and down the USA coast, all the Carib, across the pond, around the Black Sea and most of the Med and no issue until leaving an anchorage in eastern Crete and as we began to get into deep water we hit something and broke our prop - a Brunton autoprop - luckily we were near enough for a haul out and sent to prop back to mfg for repair


We have no idea what we hit and some locals thought we might have hit a big turtle - who knows - but stuff happens

[skippy]

Thanks everyone. I totally agree! Do the basics- awareness of where you are and where you should be. Oh yes! Stuff happens! Especially on a boat- boat grimlins.