Pros and cons of SS vs Alum prop

[doonda61]

I don't want to run a poll, just seeking wisdom from the masses. Besides the obvious cost difference, what are the pros and cons of SS props vs Aluminum ones? (noob boat owner here)

[robert graham]

Aluminum is lots cheaper than Stainless, Aluminum might break or bend upon a prop strike and avoid damage to lower unit/gears, where Stainless is so strong and stiff, a prop strike can damage lower unit. Stainless will give just slightly better performance than aluminum but not enough to tell for normal use. My prop is Stainless, but if I ran where there were lots of rocks, stumps, logs, etc.,I might get aluminum to help protect lower unit.

[ohsoslow]

Also depends a bit on size of motor, lower hp I'd just run aluminium, where as high hp you're more likely to get flex with aluminium, so would run s/s.

[doonda61]

Guess I should have given my engine info. It is a 2002 Yamaha 90TLRA - I have 3 props for it 2- aluminum and 1- SS. The SS one is a mercury marine vengeance 16 pitch the two aluminum ones are 17 pitch. The biggest reason for the question is the SS prop has some damage and repairing it is about the same cost as buying an aluminum prop. If I will not gain anything from the SS prop, them I will stick with the aluminum ones.

[99yam40]

Also depends on where you run .
A little oyster shell and mud or sand will eat an aluminum one real quick

[rfiene1285]

stainless is the way to go

After buying five aluminum props last year I bit the bullet and ordered a stainless. The lower unit gears in my F90TLR went bad while using aluminum props so I figure whats the harm in trying stainless. I know there is a service bulletin out right now regarding the 30 tooth lower unit gear sets, so I guess that's an admission of bad engineering by Yamaha. They are going to fewer, heavier gears (27 rather than 30) in order to keep them from coming apart under minimal stress Oh, and by the way, good luck getting the new gears, I've been waiting three weeks. I know everyone will ask, "how the heck did you destroy five props?" and I will answer with, "We run in shallow sandy bottom rivers here in WI and the props don't have to hit anything to bend completely out of whack. If you touch the sandy bottom the prop will be ruined. We run center console tunnel hull 2172 Alumacraft boats for a hundred miles up and down the river. I've tried to get the props rebuilt at five different prop shops and nobody can do it. I am told by the prop guys that the aluminum on the Yamaha props are too soft and too thin to rebuild. My brother has the same boat as I do and his Honda hasn't had a problem. And he runs his boat harder and shallower than I do. My dealer, Don's Marine Lodi, WI is no help at all so I have to try and replace the gear set myself. The boat is less than a year old. Maybe that's because he sold me a 2010 motor on a 2011 boat and told me there was no difference between the motors. Maybe mechanically there is no difference, but when I go to sell or trade the boat there will be a big mathematical difference. I put my specifications out to five dealers and ended up paying more at my hometown dealer, Don's Marine for a boat that had a year old motor on it when I went to pick it up. All the paperwork leading up to delivery had no mention of the year of the motor, intentionally left blank. Year of the boat, year of the trailer, but no year of the motor. My brother has had a great experience at Castle Rock Marine in Mauston, WI. So I have them do all my work now. Get the stainless prop, order the gears and get on the water.

[99yam40]

Is there a reason you are posting your info and questions on someone else's thread instead of starting your own

[doonda61]

I went ahead and had the SS prop repaired and installed. As far as the gear tooth count... well lets just say, I see a lower unit rebuild in my near future.