Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya. In both cases If you are at speed, neither prop will save your lower unit. In a slow speed strike, the aluminum will break, which is a good thing. That beak is a transfer if energy away from the lower unit, which helps save the potential damage of the lower unit. With a steel prop, the prop will most likely not break...it will bend some. In a slow speed strike, that energy will transfer more to the lower unit just because of the strength of the steel. What will give is the shaft at the lower unit, the gearing inside, and potentially the lower unit itself.
In either case, I don't think the hub is a safe bet to fail, although I could see that as being sacrificial in a slow speed strike. It would be the first thing replaced in a hit, though if no apparent damage to the motor existed.
High speed, nothing will save the lower unit.
Steve |
