Hi all,
I have a 5m rib with a 2000 yamaha 50 2 str which I use for limited coastal trips suitable for my experience.
Q. I noted adverts for S/Steel props and I am interested to know the advantages of trading up to a this type of prop V the factory
supplied white painted prop that is losing its first coat?
Not a lot for "ordinary" crusing-type uses. It'll go a wee bit quicker, cavitate a fair bit less, and perhaps more importantly not get damaged as easy if you nick the odd rock on the slipway.
Rib Magazine did an article on Al against S/S props about 3 months ago and came out in favour of S/S. Might be worth reading the article which was based on Grey Seal a Ribcraft 4.8
I have upgraded to a solas S/S Prop and would not go back to Aluminium. The benefits I have noticed mainly is reduced cavitaion. S/S prop regrips most times without having to throttle back.
If you are doing a lot of inshore coastal work an alloy prop is best.If you hit something hard the chances are that you will only bend the prop not break the gearbox as happens with S/S. Ask the RNLI why they DO NOT use S/S props.
Alan P
