WTH happened to my prop?

[robster]

We try to back our boat out of the wet slip yesterday and we weren't going any where and the rpm's were racing,so I trimmed up the motor and our 3 blade solas prop was gone,the hub was still there but the prop vanished. The McGard marine propeller lock set was still atached,so no one stole my prop unless they cut it off at the hub with the motor trimmed down. We keep our boat in a wet slip year round with the motor trimmed down during the freeze months Dec thru thru this April 13th. Could the rocking motion of the waves,water cause the prop to shear off the hub and drop into the water or the water eat away the prop from the hub? Any ideas on how this could have happened? I'm dumb founded. Also I keep the throttle lever in the neutral position when the boat is at rest.

[Ron Burgundy]

Someone stole it somehow.

[BobL]

Someone stole it somehow.

This or it is located directly below the engine on the lake bottom. No other option.

[Bamaman]

Maybe the thieves have a McGard marine propeller lock key?

At least they didn't take what's really expensive--the lower unit. They steal them here and sell them to the Florida marine salvage yards. Good thief can drop the L/U in 2 minutes.

[wwind3]

Most outboards have a trim switch on the motor---trim it up-take the prop---trim it back down. As far as the lock----dunno unless they have a key. Interesting.

[Capt Sully]

I doubt it fell off, someone had to remove it. That's too bad, hope things workout for you.

[BoatCop]

If your prop had a neoprene hub (bonds the prop to the hub) it's possible that it unbonded. Putting the drive in reverse would have driven the prop off the hub.

If it isn't too deep, I'd also recommend checking the bottom, underneath your moorings.

[robster]

If your prop had a neoprene hub (bonds the prop to the hub) it's possible that it unbonded. Putting the drive in reverse would have driven the prop off the hub.

If it isn't too deep, I'd also recommend checking the bottom, underneath your moorings.

thanks.. when the water is warm I'll check the bottom. I do believe the hub is neoprene.

[MH Hawker]

I suspect the water gremlins ate it. It is necessary to feed them one ever now and then. Normally they just chew on them but it was a long cold winter and they hungry.

[robster]

also that prop was only 4 months old, if the prop separated from the hub causing the prop to drop to the bottom of the lake that's kinda krazy! but I guess this wont be the first hub to fail.. I really don't think someone trimmed up my motor and cut the prop off from the hub. I keep my battery turned off at the on/off battery switch. So far the mostly likely cause is that the prop separated from the rubber hub. I still have the hub and it doesn't look like it has been cut. I'll just buy another prop in the fall and hopefully I won't go through the same thing of losing the next prop.
The prop that vanishedI was my winter prop, because I need to use an aluminum prop when I keep my motor lowered into the water during the freeze months. I use a stainless when I keep my motor up out of the water during the non-freeze months.