Prop Shaft

[ogshotgun]

Not always the case. I in the case of the top SS guys and the 44s props, it do to pushing the limits of the props "design" for lack of better term. Just like the SS prop shafts.

I looked at the 44 prop at the Thanksgiving race 2012, and it look like a prop that I MIGHT consider running in a kilo, but not a race. it was so thin it looked like I break the ends of the ears off by hand. The SS props are worse. Its all in the search for speed. The 44 prop was probably pushed a little too far. I think they were hopeing that between the material and heat treat, plus the secondary treatments it would work. Well, material and treatments can get you only so far. I think sure they backed off that a little and the blade is a wee bit thicker. In the case of the SS guys, they can only give up so much to make the prop live.
Its like the shaft that failed Long Beach. That is the second shaft I witnessed the 80 boat fail in the time its ran, and the other was at Long Beach too. Probably has a little to do with the rougher water. But when you START with a 7/8 prop shaft, you have to accept that it can happen. Same with thinning the shit out of the blade. Sooner or later you are going to pay the price. 7/8 shaft CAN be only part of it. Has ANY body ever gun drilled one. Tapered or double tapered one? Hour glassed one? Reduced the diameter below 7/8 between the coupler and strut? Ti shaft? Its all been tried. When you do things like that, you have to accept the possibility that shit can and will happen.

Fitz told be he can get 2 to 3 weekends out of a prop and the boat slows 2-3 MPH and loses some acceleration. Take the prop off, bang some pitch back in it, stand the blade back up, and accept the fact that when does it again, the props finished.

So when I see a SS shear a prop or snap a shaft, I don't give it second thought. Its not the same a GN, K or PS doing it. Its self induced, and its accepted fact. its pushing the limits of the part, and it doesn't matter if its a Grose 4340 prop, or if God himself made it. Its being pushed beyond its design limits. I don't give a shit if its forged, welded, or fell from the sky like manna from heaven. It can only take so much of you want to push the design limits.
Its like running flat tappet cams with beyond stupid ramps and roller springs. Shit isn't going to last too long.

The shit going on in GN with the engines is the same thing. Its beyond stupid. Bless the 44 boat, because they aren't playing the time bomb game. Although they may have taken the prop thing a little too far last year.

well said ....