tommer12

I have read all the pages I could find on the web on balancing and polishing a prop. And I have seen in the pictures on here that people polish the backside of the props. Everything I have read is to leave the back side alone. Is that correct?

I took an octura prop, balanced and sharpened the edges that face the notched key or forward. I also polished that side of the prop or took sanded there to get it to balance. Is this correct? My balancing unit says it is balanced. Looks nice and polished towards the front, and original on the back. I have not mounted it yet. But just checkin to see what everyone else things.

Thanks!

Ron Olson

My Feedback: (1)

Polishing it only makes it to look better. I polish mine as there is nothing worse in my opinion that a boat that looks great and has a nasty looking prop on it.
You can get into a big argument over if a smooth suface or rough surface is better on the backside. I had Competition Marine Design (a.k.a. Andy Brown) do up 4 props for me during the winter to see how they compared to that ones that I've done. His are rougher on the face than mine as their reason being that it helps to aerate the prop to give it less friction but not cavitate the prop.

ob nut

My Feedback: (1)

As Ron points out, this is a touchy subject for some out there Everyone has their process of doing props. No two are the same.

I've always left the face (side towards the notched slots) alone for balancing purpose. The back side is where material is taken off by first thinning then balancing. Once balanced, then sharpen from the backside. Once sharpened, then rebalance.

Lastly, I've got an ugly prop, but boy does it fly! Never see the prop when running, only the boat.