Composite Props

[SteveC]

I'm looking into a new prop and trying to decide between aluminum and composite. I've looked at Piranha Prop which has interchangable blades.

http://www.piranha.com/

The question is... What experience do you have with composite props? how's the performance / reliability?

Thanks
Steve

[Andy_L]

while i have no direct experience, I will tell you what was told to me: If its on a fishing boat that you take into shallow water etc (risk of hitting things gently) its probably not the prop to use...what might give a good knick on aluminium prop will break off a blade on a composite. now if you are always in deep water and avoid shallow water then you have to choose...

again....no direct experience, just what was recommended to me when i was looking

[mlamothe]

Hi Steve,

I have one of these props on our boat. I am quite satisfied with it. The performance seems ok for my 30hp two stroke. The only problem is shipping, it seems to double the website price. The prop has paid for itself already. i was trolling last year when i hit a huge rock the came up like a cliff from 18 feet of water. took a chuck (like an animal bite) out of two of the blades. the third was scuffed. (this seemed quite acceptable from the noise and how hard the hit was) It got me home and i used it for a week or two. My wife was traveling to california and picked up three new blades for $45, so in effect it cost me $45 to have the prop replaced and have a spare blade if it ever happens again.

Then just the other day we took off in shallow water and plowed through gravel with the skeg and prop. No damage, only the plastic was discolored at the tips (scratched).

Hope this helps

Mark