I see that a good many of you run SS props.

I can't seem to find the answer I am searching.

As I have said I just got my first boat, and broke in a New 50 2S (Thanx for the help with that)

I have more parts back ordered to have the 9.9 converted to a pro kicker. Included in those parts is a SS prop, which I am looking forward to as I know it will increase performance, however...

A friend knows a guy that has a marine shop. They are telling me that I am making a mistake by having the SS installed. They claim that the SS is so strong that if it does not give I may twist shafts or do lower unit damage???????

This is the first I have ever heard of anything like this.

But these guys are swearing I'd rather replace a prop then replace a lower unit and to go with Aluminum!

Is there any truth to what they are saying?

Its BS If you hit something in the water 9 times out of 10 your lower unit will hit it. Damage will occure to either one or both.  You what to know what kills a lower unit with out hitting it on something? Improper shifting or shifting in a high RPM range. not changing your gear oil etc

Its BS If you hit something in the water 9 times out of 10 your lower unit will hit it. Damage will occure to either one or both. You what to know what kills a lower unit with out hitting it on something? Improper shifting or shifting in a high RPM range. not changing your gear oil etc

Is it BS? I have heard to many stories of the SS prop doing that. The aluminum does have more give and damage to the shaft may not occur as with the SS prop but with all that I run a SS prop and use the aluminum one the came with the boat as a back up. There's a rubber bushing in SS prop that's supposed to break loose the prop but the dealer that installed it told me he's never seen one ever work out that way. Keep in mind that it's how hard or how fast you hit something that will detrmine the amount of damage.

I fish Toledo Bend which is notorious for it's stump fields and simple put I would not put a boat in any body of water without a Stainless Steel prop.

SS give you more power/speed because it is more rigid than Al.  When a prop turns the blades flex from the force against the water.  SS flexes less so more of the energy is used to push the boat forward instead of flexing the blades.

The down side to SS is when you hit something solid the blades flex less than Al.  So you have a higher probablilty to do more damage to your lower unit components if you hit something with a SS vs. Al everything else being equal.

On a 9.9 the performance gain you get from going to SS is probably not worth the extra risk, probably what the dealer was talking about.  On  larger engines you could add 10+ MPH to your top end by going from Al to SS from my experience.  So if speed is important, like in tournaments, or for long runs on big lakes SS would have an advantage.

Find a new Marine dealer.

Yes aluminum will give more than SS - that's the point. It will be cheaper in the long run to go SS durability wise - unless you fish in an area where you have 0% of ever hitting anything like a 50 foot deep clear lake.

I guess it's possible to hit something and break the shaft or lower unit, hang around areas like here (like someone said above like Ford, Rayburn, T-Bend) and you'll see more boats pulled out of the water that have SS prop damage that have to have them repaired (much easier than an aluminum) and no L/U or shaft damage and they were going 70+mph when they hit it.

I've seen too many people break a blade on an aluminum prop and get stranded unless you have a spare, whereas a SS would have either held up or had such a slight bend you coulda limped home.

The performance boost of a SS prop over aluminum is a secondary bonus on most boats , durability is what sells the prop.

Around here nearly 100% of boats have a SS prop - I have one a 15hp and a 50hp. Most dealers here throw one in on the package or they couldn't sell it with an aluminum prop. That or people get a SS prop and put the aluminum in the boat in case they really tear something up and need to get back to the ramp.

Again if you live where there's nothing in the water - run aluminum...but why would you fish there for bass? haha.

.....On a 9.9 the performance gain you get from going to SS is probably not worth the extra risk, probably what the dealer was talking about. On larger engines you could add 10+ MPH to your top end by going from Al to SS from my experience. So if speed is important, like in tournaments, or for long runs on big lakes SS would have an advantage.....

:-[Forgive as I have no clue how to do a quote...

Hot Rod, maybe I was a bit unclear my 9.9 is becoming the kicker, it keeps it's Al. prop.

This SS prop is going on a new 2S 50HP. I am SOOOO looking forward to a lil kick in speed.

We are guessing she is pushing my 1650SC @ about 50ish with Al on rt now.

And this feller is not my dealer, this is a buddy's dealer.

My dealer is telling perty much what I am hearing form you all.

Thank you guys, I am so glad I joined this forum, you guys know your stuff!

Dave

See you have all the answers and ideas of great minds.......If you are really worried about props i would jump in to a jet drive. But then you would have to worry about sucking in stuff. Hydrilla is my worse nightmaire. It clocgs my intake to jet and it can plug other cooling lines on my boat.

what eats that plant? If something does dont fish for it......

Some where there is a picture of a jet bass boat....sweet boat too... just think and can through up a good rooster tail  

If I am reading your post right. Your talking about an SS prop on a kicker motor, not main motor? right?

For those that have never use a kicker. Speed is not an issue, thrust is. Most kicker motors will never get to optimum RPM, they will always have a heavy load on them. Kicker motors take a lot of abuse. The SS prop is to get the most torque out of the motor. I have looked at the merc pro Kicker next to a normal 9.9hp and the PK is made heavy duty. with a bigger yet small pitch 4 blade prop( 20% more surface area than a regular 9.9 prop), bigger lower unit & different gears. Like I said your not looking for speed with a kicker, you want the most torque to move the heavy load. Most guys don't spend the $$ for the SS prop. However on the web site and in their brochure the Pro Kicker 9.9 uses a 4 blade prop. That 4 blade  is to big for a stock 9.9 lower unit, so I would go with the SS prop.

I have two motors I use as kickers on my 17'6 V hull. Depending on where and how I am using them I have a 15hp merc and the other is a 6hp Johnson.

I use the 15hp when I am going to a HP limited lake and need the power to cover water. The 6hp is used when the kicker will be used for trolling mainly. I will say one thing if you use your kicker a lot get it cleaned regularly since it will not get up to high RPM's carbon build up is an issue.

And jet drive for a kicker? no way. You use a kicker for trolling and HP limited lake. a jet drive would not work as a kicker motor.

I wonder what kind of performance increase you expect out of a 9.9 kicker? My vision of a kicker is slow trolling and if this is the case the extra cost of stainless is a mute issue.

I'm sorry folks, I thought I cleared this up.

The 9.9 is keeping it's Aluminum prop.

The 9.9 came with the boat when I bought it. It is a 9.9 4S Bigfoot being converted to a PK

The SS Prop is being installed on a new 502S.

I'm waiting on some parts so they let me have the 50 with one of their Alum. Props till my stuff comes in.

I'm sorry folks, I thought I cleared this up.

The 9.9 is keeping it's Aluminum prop.

The 9.9 came with the boat when I bought it. It is a 9.9 4S Bigfoot being converted to a PK

The SS Prop is being installed on a new 502S.

I'm waiting on some parts so they let me have the 50 with one of their Alum. Props till my stuff comes in.

That's what I thought you said.

sorry miss understood your post.

Yes get the SS prop for the 50. It will be much better.

Good luck on the PK, you already have the motor with the higher thrust, since the PK and Bigfoot are almost the same motor.