Check Your Trolling Motor Prop

[D.W. Verts]

Removing your prop on your trolling motor periodically is a great idea-





This is from just a little while ago. If left untouched, this stuff can eventually eat through a seal and waste your motor. In all fairness, I knew that I got into this line the other day. It was in some timber that anglers could reach from shore, and I pulled a bunch out before giving up on it right then and there (I didn't have the mandatory 1/2" wrench, although I did have the screwdriver) . There's some monofilament, but the majority of it is really light BRAID. And it was very, very tough, also. And there you go.

Dale

[Mike Cork]

For use down here cypress moss will also do this. It's a wise idea to check under your prop at least monthly.

[chadyp]

Thank you for reminder. Also goes for those with peddle kayaks.

[Donald Garner]

Dale tks for sharing this.  Carl and I were out a week or so and we had to pull his prop off his outboard.  There were several wraps of braid on the prop shaft.

[D.W. Verts]

As bad as mono is (that's the welded "ring" in the picture, covered in moss) I believe that braid is probably worse. There's also some string crap in lily pads that will shut you down on the spot. You'll clear it (unwind it) but it sometimes leaves trash behind that cannot be good for the motor. It comes out very, very hard.

Dale

[FishaHallic]

I actually just cleared mine today, no line but did have some stringy weeds under the prop.  Question though, should that prop shaft move in and out maybe a 1/4 to 1/2"?  My trolling motor has always had that "play" on the shaft, still runs alright just wondering.

Thanks

[D.W. Verts]

If it's running there's no water in the lower unit, so yes- you should be fine.

That end play is "thrust", and I've always found a bunch in my trolling motors. Too much on the outboard, now, THERE'S a problem. A loud and expensive one, too.

Dale

[FishaHallic]

If it's running there's no water in the lower unit, so yes- you should be fine.

That end play is "thrust", and I've always found a bunch in my trolling motors. Too much on the outboard, now, THERE'S a problem. A loud and expensive one, too.

Dale

Thanks for the reply Dale, after already shopping some trolling motors a month or so ago I know finding the right one would be tough right now.  I'll use it till it drops or I find the right motor for me.