Spare trolling motor prop on the boat, stainless prop in my truck and 2 more in my garage.  Have a full toolbox in my boat.  It is the only guarantee that makes me not need it.

 

19 hours ago, Deephaven said:

It is the only guarantee that makes me not need it.

I know what ya mean…. The minute I take something outta my boat because I haven’t used it, I’ll need it  within hours. Hahaha

I have spare props for the outboard and the trolling motor and the tools to change them. Also have spare spark plugs. Have several old props that need to be rebuilt but since I put a SS prop on the outboard I never worried about getting them fixed.

It's like driving your car without a spare tire.  It's just extra baggage you hope you never need but sure would hate to need it and not have it.

7 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

It's like driving your car without a spare tire.  It's just extra baggage you hope you never need but sure would hate to need it and not have it.

 

Two things I keep in my boat in case of emergencies. A spare prop & ...

 

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Two things I keep in my boat in case of emergencies. A spare prop & ...

 

Right over the transom for @Log Catcher to cast to?  

J/K of course. I keep the same "amenities". 

I've been carrying a spare prop (and one for the trolling motor) and plastic prop wrench for years.  Haven't had to use it yet.

 

But one time, after changing a prop at home, I added a small 2x4 block to the boat's tool kit... it was needed to jam/stop the prop so the nut can be loosened.  

1 hour ago, Way2slow said:

It's like driving your car without a spare tire.  It's just extra baggage you hope you never need but sure would hate to need it and not have it.

Except its relatively easy to change a tire when you need to.  Changing a prop "on the water" has to be virtually impossible for most people other than @TnRiver46 who may or may not fall in the drink while trying.

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Except its relatively easy to change a tire when you need to.  Changing a prop "on the water" has to be virtually impossible for most people other than @TnRiver46 who may or may not fall in the drink while trying.

That’s only if I try without going to land haha. It really isn’t hard on mine, I take my prop off all the time to make sure there’s no line on it. It’s harder with bigger engines 

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I take my prop off all the time to make sure there’s no line on it.

Yes, I do that too, and with my bow mount prop.  But in my driveway or garage at home.  Not on the freaking water lol.  Some of you must have arms like a freaking gorilla to reach around and change a prop while on the water.

 

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yes, I do that too, and with my bow mount prop.  But in my driveway or garage at home.  Not on the freaking water lol.  Some of you must have arms like a freaking gorilla to reach around and change a prop while on the water.

 

Nobody wants to do it but if yours is broken and you are 12 miles from your truck and trailer, hop out onto land and put the spare prop on. Sure beats swimming 12 miles. This really isn’t that mind boggling, just like a flat tire 

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

Nobody wants to do it but if yours is broken and you are 12 miles from your truck and trailer, hop out onto land and put the spare prop on. Sure beats swimming 12 miles. This really isn’t that mind boggling, just like a flat tire 

Exactly.  I had never even considered trying to do it while out in open water.  I always figured I'd head to shore and stand in shallow water to change it.

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nobody wants to do it but if yours is broken and you are 12 miles from your truck and trailer, hop out onto land and put the spare prop on. Sure beats swimming 12 miles. This really isn’t that mind boggling, just like a flat tire 

TN, he gets it, man.

He's just trying to be funny. 

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nobody wants to do it but if yours is broken and you are 12 miles from your truck and trailer

I am literally never that far from my truck or trailer when I am fishing.  Obviously some people are.

 

So if you are 12 miles from the nearest point of land, I assume you are going to try and change it while on the water.  That's the part of the story I fail to understand.  If you are within a reasonable distance from the truck/access, just put your bow mount on high and go back there.  That is what I'd do if I busted my prop up beyond use.

Just now, gimruis said:

I am literally never that far from my truck or trailer when I am fishing.  Obviously some people are.

 

So if you are 12 miles from the nearest point of land, I assume you are going to try and change it while on the water.  That's the part of the story I fail to understand.  If you are within a reasonable distance from the truck/access, just put your bow mount on high and go back there.  That is what I'd do if I busted my prop up beyond use.

I’m always 12-15 miles from the boat ramp, but it’s physically impossible for me to be 12 miles from land unless I’m on vacation.  Good luck “bow mounting” 12-15 miles against current and wind, get to shore and change prop. 

Then don't carry a spare prop. No one is telling you to do so. The part that you're failing to understand is what you're failing to do...that's reading the posts in it's entirety. Members are telling you what they do.

Alright, I'm done here.  Maybe @Deleted account can delete me for a while.

I launch at the southern end of Lake Champlain (NY/VT).  I could possibly be 120 miles from the boat launch, but I'll always be within a mile or two of shore.  ?

No spare prop here.

Biggest lake I fish is 24,000 acres so I can drop the trolling motor if needed.

 

I've been towed in twice for other issues but surprisingly have never busted a prop on either end...... I'm slow and methodical.

Never used to then I decided to put it in my boat one trip to Wisconsin.  Glad I did.  1 hour after launching I wasn’t paying attention and drifted shallow into some rocks.  When I took off, I bunged up my prop pretty bad.  Pretty much unusable without causing more damage to my lower unit and prop shaft.  Without my spare I would have been dropping big $$ for another prop IF I could find one.  Could have ruined my whole vacation.  

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Then don't carry a spare prop. No one is telling you to do so. The part that you're failing to understand is what you're failing to do...that's reading the posts in it's entirety. Members are telling you what they do.

I didn't mean to strike a nerve on the prop topic.  I was just wondering how people change them "on the water" so to speak.  No one really answered that question.  I know there are people on this forum that fish big water and simply going to shore would not be an option.  I understand going to shore to do it if you are a reasonable distance from it.

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I didn't mean to strike a nerve on the prop topic.  I was just wondering how people change them "on the water" so to speak.  No one really answered that question.  I know there are people on this forum that fish big water and simply going to shore would not be an option.  I understand going to shore to do it if you are a reasonable distance from it.

No worries, man. I honestly thought you were joking around. It is winter you know. Lol

 

I fish the 3 mile federal line in the Gulf of Maine and see boats around all the time . Someone will usually tow you in if you need one or I can row in if I’m on an incoming tide or the current is in that direction. 
 

Can I do it in open water? Probably. It would be a stretch and h e l l no if it’s bumpy out there. 
 

All good here, bud.  

You can swing this prop into the boat, can I get a hallelujah 

After giving some thought and in the spirit of answering your question my “idonthaveaspareproponboard” friend ( @gimruis ) 

 

I forgot that I have a telescoping ladder on my transom. I can stand on that. If I didn’t have a ladder I always have rope on board. A surgeon’s loop to put my foot in and tied off to a cleat. 1 or 2 ropes whichever you’re comfortable with. Throw over the back of the transom and stand in the surgeon’s loop.

Won’t be comfortable but you get the job done.

 

Hope that helps 

I have carried a spare prop for my boat motor for over 55 years of boating....just in case...have never had to use it !!!  Probably shouldnt have said that as my luck will now change !!  I have pulled my boat up behind other folks that have damaged props and reached over to helped them change theirs or let them come aboard so they can reach over to change there own.