I'm having a little problem. I've broken 2 props now and it's due to the blades flexing and barely grazing the cavitation plates. You can see on the bottome of the plate where the blade has barely come into contact with it. These were both 15 1/4 " diameter Bravo 1's. I've just ordered some 15 1/2 " Herrings so this is kind of worrying me a little. Should i take off the cavitation plates?? Or will the boat be too hard to get on plane?? Any suggestions?

you could take off the plate planning time will increase very minamal if it is a problem then try the new maximus props from merc.

You should be just fine with the new props. Im assuming your running bravo drives? they can run up to a 16" prop with no contact. If you would put up a pic of the damage I could probably tell ya whats going on, But just taking a educated guess Id say that the stepped bottom of your boat is flexing the props, they are cracking(fairly common) and hitting the cavitation plate as they are braking

Later CJ

I lost a plate once (took out the prop) the boat was a pig to get on plain... Prop broke would break loose very easy.

The boat will definetly cavitate with a high x-dim when planing. My boat has the cavitation plate bolted on and I once forgot to reinstall it. I couldn't even plane off. Put the plate back on and boat poped up with only a little slippage. It all depends on the hull, x-dim and prop. With a deep drive, I could see there being no difference.

My guess would with the Herrings being stronger that you won't be flexing the blades as much.

Check your prop shaft in your drives to see if it is out of wack



Rick OSG

Been there!! I actually had the prop blade begin to tear, and sliced the cavitiation plate, anode, and drive shower up. Say hello to a replacement lower case (B1-XZ appliaction).