Low Speed Shudder

[racer2c]

I went across a soft sand bar at very low speed and felt just a little bit of a 'drag'. Back underway was fine but when I got to the no wake zone I now have a pretty good shudder but only at no wake speed. I checked the prop and there isn't any dings or bends that I could feel. It did seem to move a little when I grabbed the prop. I'm pulling it out of the water tomorrow to check it more closely.
Is that 'play' in the prop normal? Hopefully it just needs a little tightening.

[seapuppy]

what you probably have is a slightly bent prop.....the prop on an alpha 1 drive will have a slight amount of play.......once you get the boat out of the water.....lower the drive....get a screw drive and clamp it to a jack stand or something stable and point it at one of the blades...don't touch it ..just get it really close...turn the prop by hand....watch the other props as you spin it......if one is out of true...it will cause the vibration.....hope this helps....

[racer2c]

Thanks SP, once I got it out of the water this evening I was able to actually see the bent blade. You hit that nail on the head!

It's not a bad bend but causes quit a shudder. I should be able to bend this one back and use it as a back up because I want to put a 19 pitch on it.

[seapuppy]

take the old prop off and over to your local prop shop......they can recondition the prop for about 50-60 bucks.....then keep it as a spare....

glad I could help out....I've dinged several props to know what it is when it happens...haha.....