I'm willing to give rye the benefit of the doubt.I have the same problem with one of my runabouts.It's like my EDF jet, it looks and glides fantastic for a few passes and then it's dead stick time.Some gave me the same advice as you but the chump who built it for some reason fused/glued the prop onto the shaft, so to "simply" change all that is (I feel) more trouble than it is worth.Maybe he's just looking for a second opinion.