rope in prop

[cutbrain]

what is the best way to get a rope out of prop of a dual stern drive unit. the rope is attached to the boat. should I just cut it and rev the engine in reverse?

[btrayfors]

Absolutely NOT! You could do serious damage to the prop, shaft, strut, etc.

Sometimes....very rarely....if it's a simple wrap you can put some pull on the rope and SLOWLY ease the engine in reverse....just a tiny bit.....to see if the rope loosens. If it does, you're one very lucky sailor and you just might be able to pull it out carefully by nudging the engine in reverse a few times.

However, in my experience once a rope has gotcha, there's little you can do without diving on it or hauling the boat.

One reason is that today's poly lines will melt quickly and make a real mess which has to be carefully and tediously cut away.

Good luck,

Bill

[SkiprJohn]

As Bill says. The best thing to do is dive down and check it out. I was once very lucky to be able to clear a jib sheet from my prop in the middle of the night with no snorkel gear by just diving down and feeling what might be the problem but I was extremely fortunate. Usually they get wrapped so hard that the only way is to cut them away from prop and shaft.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[never monday]

hang on, this is a stern drive. Tilt that thing up, way up to trailer position and reach over and un wind it.