Outboard question about prop. guard
 

I have a question about the outboard that is on my Duck hunting boat.

Have any of you ever used a Prop. guard? How much speed did you lose?

Also, I remember seeing a product that you put onto the side of your lower unit that would cut any fishing line or weeds that got around your prop. What is it called? Where can I buy one?

A few options try, Bass Pro Shop, West marine, they should both have a website.

http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet...g?hvarAID=goto

I tried both of those already but didn't turn up anything. I guess it would be easier if I knew what it was called.:rolleyes:

Disney world had little 2-seater rental boats on their lake for years. I remember going there as a kid and renting one with my Dad. They had 9.9 horse Mercs on them and with the motor in the lowest pin (trimmed down) they would plane with both Dad and I in it. (Dad hopped out and I drove it by myself for a while with the motor in the 4th pin until they came and made Dad get back in - it rocked with just my little 10yr old ass in it).

Anyhow, the little boats had no prop guards over the aluminum props.

We went back 2 years later and they were using prop guards now. Same boats, same motors... I probably weighed 20 pounds more as a 12yr old, and Dad had probably stayed about the same in weight (or more likely he had lost a few since this is right around the time that he lost 80 pounds over a couple of years).

With the prop guards the boat would not plane with me and Dad. I was old enough then to drive by myself and it WOULD plane with just me, but struggled to do so. We looked at the prop and the prop was in good condition.

Point is, the prop guard WILL cut performance SOME. I don't know that anybody can estimate your particular speed loss unless they have the exact combo you are running. You WILL lose something though.

I've seen blades you can put on the leading edge to cut lines and they LOOK like they would work ok.