Propeller Inspection & Replacement in Delray Beach FL — Back on Plane Today

The clearest signs are sudden: a hard strike on a sandbar, oyster bar, or submerged log; a noticeable vibration that wasn't there yesterday; or a sudden drop in top-end speed. Subtler signs sneak up — you can't reach rated RPM at wide-open throttle, hole shot feels lazy, fuel economy gets worse, or you spin the wheel and feel the boat slip at full throttle. That last one is hub slip, and it almost always means the rubber bushing inside the prop is shot.

Waiting makes it worse. A bent blade puts uneven load on the lower-unit gears and seals — keep running it and you're looking at a gearcase rebuild instead of a $400 prop swap. Whether to repair (re-pitch and weld) or replace usually comes down to how bad the damage is. We'll tell you straight which way to go.

Our work starts with a real inspection at your dock. We pull the prop, check it for bent or cracked blades, measure cup and pitch, test the hub for slip, and look at the prop shaft, seal, and skeg for damage that often comes with a prop strike. If your existing prop is repairable, we'll send it out for re-pitching and welding and re-install it once it's back. If it's not, we'll match you to the right replacement based on how you actually use the boat — cruising, fishing, towing, or running fast offshore.

Aluminum vs. stainless matters more than most owners realize. Stainless gives you better hole shot, top-end, and durability, but transmits more force to the gearcase in a strike. Aluminum is cheaper and acts as a "fuse" that sacrifices itself to save the lower unit. Pitch matters even more — the wrong pitch by even one or two inches kills RPM at the top end or lugs the engine off idle.

A bad prop doesn't always show up alone. If your engine is also running rough, overheating, or down on power, our Outboard Engine Repair service rules out other causes so you don't pay for a prop you didn't need. Prop inspection is also part of every Scheduled Boat Maintenance visit — we check pitch, hub, and shaft on 100-hour and 300-hour service.

Running out of Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Highland Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach, or Palm Beach means sandbars, oyster, coral heads, and the occasional submerged debris — prop strikes happen. Heavy inlet use through Hillsboro, Boca, and Boynton also tends to expose under-propped setups; an engine that climbs to 6,000 RPM in flat water might top out at 5,200 fighting a stiff outgoing tide. We re-pitch a lot of props in this area for that exact reason.

Local saltwater also takes a quiet toll. Stainless props pick up surface pitting, aluminum props lose blade thickness, and hub bushings break down faster than they would in fresh water. Routine inspection catches all of that before it bites — contact us to book a prop check.

Call 561-652-6796, tell us the boat, engine, current prop, and what you're feeling — we'll quote a flat inspection fee up front and book a time, often the same day. We come to your slip, dock, or driveway, pull the prop, inspect it and the lower unit, and walk you through the options on the spot. If a repair is the right call, we send the prop out and re-install when it's back. If replacement makes sense, we'll match the right wheel for your boat and have you running clean — most replacements are done in under an hour.

We're mobile — every prop job happens at your dock with no haul-out. We service all major outboard brands: Yamaha, Mercury, Honda, Suzuki, and Tohatsu. We're MMI certified and insured, with years of saltwater experience across South Florida and Palm Beach County. You get an honest call on repair vs. replace, an upfront price, and same-day appointments whenever the schedule allows.

See related engine work over on our Engine & Mechanical Services page, or head back to the Mobile Boat Mechanic Delray Beach homepage for everything we offer.