Just have a few minutes right now, but will post the full story with pics later. Managed to damage my skeg, 3-blade SS prop (14.25" x 19") and bent my prop shaft last night. Brought the boat to my dealer this morning. He is quoting a prop repair of $180-200 and will send it out if I choose to go that route.

However, given the repair price is not a lot less than a new prop, I am thinking of upgrading to a 4 blade SS for better hole shot and lower planing speeds (for wake and knee boarding). (Boat is a FW 21 with 5.0 270hp GXi. Top speed is about 51 MPH at 4950 RPM. I almost never run at WOT. Crusing and water sports are our main pursuit.) My dealer does not have any 4-blade SS for me to try. I cannot find a prop shop within 70 miles of me that will let me demo some props. Anybody know of an online shop that will let me demo?

PropMD.com has an Apollo 4 blade on sale for $275. Should I just go for this one????

IMHO...... Yes.

You will need the hub kit too (maybe) for another $25. Get it and then shop around for another shop to repair your other prop to keep as a back up spare.

Quite a discussion here on props.

The sales price from PropMD.com includes the hub kit. Seems like a pretty good deal. They will also repair the old one for about $140 including shipping.

Sounds like your old prop was about right RPM wise. If you do not use WOT alot and don't mind a little less cruise mileage you might go down a step in pitch. Just have to watch the revs.

A four blade will probably pull a little stronger and have a lower planing speed but it is tough to know all the handleing characteristics without trying it.

What Prober said. YOu could always ebay it or put on Craigs list if don't like it I guess, but that could get expensive quick.

PropMD.com has an exchange program.

Update: Got the boat back from the shop last week. $1200 in repairs which included a new prop shaft and an installed Skeg Gard. I ordered and have received a new 4-blade Apollo SS 18 pitch prop. Haven't had the chance to install it and test it yet.

All total, a nice $1500 worth of damage to the boat. Really upset me that I was able to find the shoal on the second time through, but somehow missed it on the way out into the lake. Anyway, I probably could have done the repairs myself to save some money, but my dealer has been good to me and I have no problem having them do the work. In mind, it also generates some cash flow while the new boat market for him is slow. Plus, their work is warrantied, while mine isn't.

Pics of the damage are on my wife's camera. I'll post them soon.

Shouldn't that be covered by insurance?

I know insurance paid for mine when I did it a while ago. Almost the exact same amount.