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PROPER CARE OF A WOOD PROP

C

CULTURED REDNECK

Well-known member
I READ SOMTHING ABOUT PARKING A WOOD PROP VERTICALLY TO KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE, ARE THERE ANY MORE SIMPLE THINGS I CAN DO TO KEEP MY PROP IN GOOD SHAPE? HOW IMPORTANT IS PARKING A WOOD PROP VERTICALLY? I GATHER THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IF THE BOAT IS GOING TO SIT A WHILE ALTHOUGH I DONT PLAN ON LETTING MINE SIT TOO LONG, BUT YOU NEVER CAN TELL.
 
Nope, park it horizonal to keep water from collecting in one end and putting it out of balance. :shock: :D
Only metal props are parked vertical.
 
Used to be wood props had 2 holes in the tips, these were to let any moisture get out from under the metal tip. In the vertical position the water drains right out both top and bottom. In my mind it is very important to prop longevity.

I always used to clean my prop the rewax it after every trip. Always was looking for any cracks in the varnish and never let anything go til next time. Anything needs touching up, do it then. The prop should last many many years with good care.

Frequent checks for tracking are a good idea as well. Once initial torque is applied never put a toprque wrench on it again, let the tracking adjustments decide where the final torque is, it will/may be significantly different on each bolt after tracking adjustments. Remember the prop doesn't need any torque or even bolts to stay on, they are there for dynamic letoff/ deceleration forces and it simply doesnt take a lot to hold it there for that.

Scotty :wink:
 
I was always told to leave them horizontal. Something to do with moisture settling and making them go out of balance. Someone who really knows chime in.
 
Keep a wood prop horizontal, not vertical. Vertical will allow moisture to go to one blade and could cause an unbalanced situation. The best protection I've found is to scotch-brite or lightly sand the finish and put on a nice layer of urethane with UV protection.
 
Des Moins, now ya got me doubting myself. Im headed over to work on the boat and I'll have to take a hard look at my new prop. I seem to remember there being space for the water to drain from the top tip when in vertical but I need to revisit that. Ill post pics here before the day is over.

You made me think and thats a good thing.

Scotty :idea:
 
always store your props horizontal. Always always always.

The old holes you're talking about used to be drilled on the bottoms of the props to allow the moisture to escape the tips. There shouldn't be any moisture anywhere else in the wood, this will cause rot. wood+moisture+oxygen=WDO

Wood props do, however, still have a small amount of sap in them, just as any wood does. Storing the prop horiszontal keeps the sap from running to one end or the other of the prop. The direction of grain/laminations is also lengthwise, which would further facilitate the sap to run to one end or the other if it is stored vertically.

At the end of every season I used to sand my prop lightly with a medium sand paper (600 grit or finer) and apply two-three thin coats of a polyurethane or an aerosol spar urethane. Many light coats is better than a single thin coat. This will seal the prop and keep moisture from getting in.... but they don't last forever, the pores of the wood will eventually soak the urethane up as well -- this is why you do it every season. I've got a wood prop at the house that was destroyed because it sat untouched for 10 years (horizontally, hung from the ceiling, inside a garage, but no attention was paid to it)...
 
Horizontal it is. Gees I must have had a brain f@(& ! Sorry for the stupidity on my part. Some would say its normal but I certainly would never intentionally advise anyone to do something that would damage their boat , prop or any of their equipment.

BTW, my prop does have the 2 little holes in each end, but horizontal does keep things draining where they need me.

As we said in the Navy, BELAY MY LAST ! Hahahahahahah

Thanks guys for catching this, I'll think before I type next time :thumbright:

Scotty :wink:
 
alway Horizontal ,I had a guy come in with a prop that was out of balance so bad it had to we drum sanded to get it in balance. And the cause was he left it vertical . u can wax them to keep them in good shape.
 
Every one knows that if you want to keep the
sap from running to one end or the other, all
you have to do is put the beer in the middle.
 
I had to look up WTF an AG is. I thought maybe an Aircraft Gunners Mate or an Airboat Gunner or something. Turns out its a Hippy Dippy Weather Man !

Hahahahahahah

Welcome aboard mate !

Scotty :)
 
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