Early this spring I hit a log in the water and couldn't see any visible damage to the hull. I completed shaft measurements to find that there was no damage to the shaft at all. I got to thinking that I didn't inspect the prop from the side at all just looked at the face of each blade and so went and looked at it again tonight. The pictures are the small bends that I found. I would say that the pictures actually make it look worse than it is, but do you think this is enough to cause the vibration that I'm feeling while accelerating? Can damage like this be repaired?
Additionally, when I spin the prop with the boat out of the water, it vibrates and makes noise. I was just thinking this was because there is no water lubricating the packing and strut bearing. Does anyone elses make this noise when you spin the prop by hand while the boat is on the trailer?
Yes, that can be repaired. Ask around for a local place or send it in to OJ props (Mine's actually there right now) or Acme for repair. It will probably cost you in the neighborhood of $80-125.
If you call local prop shops specifically ask if they handle bronze, inboard props in house (Some will just mail them off and charge you a markup). If they do work with them ask if they do a hand balance or dynamic balance. You want a dynamic balance.
Don't put your boat in gear out of the water. It's bad for the seal on the shaft and what not.
Oh, and yes, that's enough damage to make it potentially vibrate. Get that fixed and then see how it drives. If it still vibrates then look at other possibilities.
Yes, that is plenty of bend to cause serious vibration.
Yes, that is easily repairable, follow Jeff's advice above
Yes, that is your cutlass bearing that is making that chatter, it needs to be wet, but spinning it by hand won't hurt it.
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