SS vs. Aluminum

[22Howard]

The discussion came up that, in the event of a prop strike, an aluminum prop would absorb the energy better (i.e. bend) than the Stainless Steel prop and therefore "protect" the out drive internals better than a SS prop. Seems to make sense, but is there any experience to this being true or false.

Also, compairing an equal pitch/diameter SS and aluminum, would there be any performance difference? In other words would there be enough flex in an aluminum prop to affect performance for the better or worse?

 

[hallett21]

An aluminum prop would flex with any real power behind it.

 

[Trash]

I will echo the above statement. Any power pushing an aluminum prop hard it will flex, flatten out etc. and the performance will suffer.

Look at it this way, the weakest link in the powertrain from prop tip to gimbal and u-joint is the prop tip. Stainless or aluminum those will go first before you start seriously hurting other stuff. Either way the prop loses. If you hit something big enough and hard enough to damage the drive I don't think it matters what the prop is made of.