Prop fell off 1999 Pro Air Nautique

[brettmski]

Cruising around the lake last night (idle) and my prop fell off my 1999 Pro Air Nautique! It (propeller) has been on for 2.5 years without a hitch. Any ideas of why it fell off??? It was an Acme 4 blade that ran great. Also, any recommendations on any other props for this boat?

[SquamInboards]

RE: Prop fell off 1999 Pro Air Nautique

Fell off in gear, going forward? You must have hit something...

[jward]

RE: Prop fell off 1999 Pro Air Nautique

find a diver and go get it.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: Prop fell off 1999 Pro Air Nautique

Fell off in gear, going forward? You must have hit something...

Agreed. I can see it happening if both the cotter pin and nut fell off, and the boat was put in reverse... but when going forward, the prop is trying to pull itself further up the taper.

Or did the shaft break?

[8122pbrainard]

RE: Re: RE: Prop fell off 1999 Pro Air Nautique

I'd say that 2&1/2 years ago the prop wasn't installed correctly and the cotter pin finally wore through allowing the nut to come off. Brett, When it was installed, was the taper checked? If it was a new prop, was it lapped to the shaft? The other common problem is the key gets cocked binding the prop so it's never seated fully on the taper. Always slide the prop on the shaft without the key first. Mark the position of the forward edge of the prop hub and then install the prop with the key. When the hub just covers up the mark, you know it's seated. Have you been noticing any vibration lately?

[brettmski]

Unfortunatly it is in 130 feet of water or so. It fell off going forward and and not been in reverse for a good 30 minutes or so... I think it was a bad install to begin with. I put the spare on yesterday and seated it properly and all seems well so far.