How to change boat propeller by yourself

 

The propeller is one of the most important and vulnerable parts of the boat engine. And it is more prone to failure and repairs with time being. Being a boat owner you might a come through a point where you had an emergency of changing the boat propeller which is necessary at the failure. That’s why it is advised to the boat owners to have a spare or extra propeller to avoid problems and emergencies. Either the propeller needs to be changed during an emergency or when you take it out after months of storage in winter when the parts are jammed. In both cases, you will have to change the propeller and for this, you must know how a propeller is changed or replaced.

Changing a boat propeller is not a tough task and here are some of the tips and techniques which can be used to help in shifting the propeller and installing a new one.

You don’t need to buy a different set of equipment to use for this work. Your car tools can be accomplished to change the propeller, which usually has all kinds of basic tools such as screwdrivers, flathead screwdriver, ratchet, pliers, and rubber gloves. Apart from these tools, you might need a few more specialized tools such as a set of propeller pliers to get the job done easily. And first, most important thing is that you must wear the gloves first and throughout the process since propellers are like a fan that has sharp edges which cut through the skin easily.

And then start by removing the propeller. One should one attentive while removing the process as installing a new one is essentially the same process the removing one. To being with lose the nuts and turn the blades too. You can use a prop-puller to remove the stuck blades. And then pull off the propeller fully. After this inspect the area for any kinds of other damages and try to repair it. Also, make sure to clean the shaft properly to remove the water plants or plastics stuck.

Once you are done with cleaning and ready to function properly, slide the new propeller on the shaft and tighten all the nuts using a wrench. Make sure that the orientation is accurate and there is a smacking sound from the propeller. Tighten all the nuts again and ensure that they are properly closed. To check if the propeller has been installed properly, rev the engine and in your head, compare the sound of the new propeller with the old one and see if it is working in a better way. Once you follow these steps properly, you will easily be able to change the propeller of your boat when stuck in an emergency. Also, remember to check your boat and propellers every six months to avoid problems and emergencies.