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[marshal]

Hey all,

I have a newer 50hp Merc. 4 stroke that I'd like to also use in the Fraser.

Other than knowing the river well, what can be done to protect the lower part of the leg from damage?

Any prioducts you have used / can recommend?

Thanks

[skunked]

the skeg guard has come in handy a few times for me can be boaght at just about any marine shop.it does reduce your hp a little tho.think its called macks river runner or something along them lines

[Riverman]

Sold at Mikes Reel Repair in Abby I have one on my fifty merc.

[Sam Salmon]

There's the Prop Saver and the River Runner both made by Mac's.

http://www.propsavers.com/

One odd thing that can happen with the Prop Saver is a (usually small) piece of wood becoming jammed between the ring and the prop it's something you have to watch for-we all know how much wood is floating in the Fraser.

         

[gman]

I have the River Runner (the right picture) or something just like it on my  75Hp Yamaha. Whne I added it the top speed of my boat reduced slightly from 31 mph down to 29 mph. It has protected my prop quite a few times. I'm sure the prop save would be even better protection, but might slow you down more.

I have taken my boat on the Fraser many times and have wrecked one prop. My fishing partner was driving and bringing the boat into shore at low speed and it drifted downstream and eventually drifted into a rock and wrecked the prop.  The River Runner did not protect it, but the Prop saver style may have.

When you beach the boat pick your spots, and come in fairly direct to shore and avoid drifting downstream. Have a depth sounder and set the warning alarm as the river can shallow up when you least expect it. I always wear my life jacket when running on the Fraser.

[armytruck]

I have on the one on the right and it works for me . The only thing is , it acts like a shovel sometimes and picks up small rocks that will put dents in your prop . Better little dent than shering off the skeg and your prop . Been there done that

[arimaBOATER]

Marshal We do alot of boating in the Fraser & you are so right ...there's always so much debris in the water to look out for.............................. including lots of dead heads... luckily the MONSTER DEAD HEAD right in the middle of the channel as ya enter by Westham Is (Sea Reach) off of the main Fraser R. is flagged. -------------------------------- If the sun's glare is on the water... or choppy waves a boater who is not paying attention can hit this snag or small or big "water logged" logs...branches etc...  Know of one chap who said he hit something BIG in the North Fraser 3 x. ( each time lots of damage done to his outboards) ........... great to see "posts" about those "prop-savers".(I'm going to check into it) ---------- Passed the info on to the Arima Boat Owners Yuku site........ as I know of 3 other Arima boat owners who do use the Fraser R. ----------------These prop savers would be good for salt too as ya can find lots of floating stuff out there too.

[bcsixgill]

For our waters, its cheap insurance.  If you're running the river or chuck with any regularity, its just a matter of time before you hit something.

[jetboatjim]

this will solve all of your problems........

[armytruck]

this will solve all of your problems........

how much     .  arimaBOATER ........... I would think you would be better off using one of these prop savers in the in the Fraser , preferably the one on the right as it will save your prop if you do come up shallow and skid on some rocks I believe that is why they are formed in that shape . The ring prop saver I think is used more for fishing in lakes where there are lots of weed bed and branches when running in the shallows ( correct me if I'm wrong ) . I don't believe that they are the answer to floating debris on the top of the water though as it tends to bounce into the front of the leg and  off . When I run in the lakes  I take it off and I can feel the difference in speed . My 2 cents 

[Rieber]

In my opinion those prop and skeg protectors are gimmicks. Invest your money in a good ff/depth sounder that reads at all speeds.

Respect the river. If you're going to run a prop, your going to hit bottom once in a while, they key is not to do it at full speed. Watch the depth all the time, as the bottom starts coming up at you - slow down and take appropriate action like heading for deeper water.

Pay attention to the river bank - a steep bank normally means deeper water - but not always.
Shallow water is normally associated with the long shallow slope beach - mind you no beaches right now.

Watch for the ripples where you think there are islands.

Experience and familiarity with sections of the river will give you confidence in safe passage.

Back to the guards, you'll spend $100 on one and if you do hit something you end up bending that guard into your prop or breaking off your skeg. You also loose power due to increased drag - enough that you can feel it.

A stainless steel prop will give you longer life if you run the prop through loose pea gravel or sand and will withstand a lot more hits than aluminum props.

Nice thing about the high water expecially once the freshet starts to taper off and no new trees come down the river - lots of room out there.

Just respect the river and use common sense until you're confident on your route.