Making Things Up To Survive. It’s Okay, It’s Just A Propeller Story

I call this, Prop on a Rock? A Good Rock? You Can Rock your prop and roll?

We got this cool note and pics from longtime fellow Woody Boater Gary Michael from Inland Boatworks, makes you think, mmm this is actually a very good idea, and I am sure saved the day..a lot. I know of some old prop guys that could just tap here and there and Poof, done. But this is an idea I had not thought of. I wonder if you could make one of these out of a material. Concrete? And have around? Take it away Gary.

Prop on left, rock on right, and some hammer time on the far right

Thanks Matt- This 80 lb cast unit was given to me by Ivan Phelps long time boat restorer here in the lake’s region of N.H. well into his 80’s is still in the game. This was used on the Connecticut Lakes here in Northern N.H. by loggers using Historic Launches to move wood to mills, when the props were bent this was the unit used to straighten things out.

It’s like they were made for each other

Put her in the cast mold and pound away with a sledge. Not quite H+H accuracy but it kept them working. There are 4 Connecticut Lakes starting in Pittsburg N.H. and the 4th overlapping into Canada and are the headwaters of the Connecticut River. The prop in this is 8×13 probably standard on the work boats. Tough country in Northern N.H. the 1900’s you had to make things up to survive
Gary

Great, now I am going to be searching for some prop molds. Just great.. Just F’n great. I love these things.. That one day my kids will wonder, what in the hell is this? Why didn’t dad collect Bitcoin.. Oh, ya.. right.. Too soon?

You can visit Gary at Inland Boatworks in just one click. HERE

/9 Comments/by
9 replies
  1. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Once again learned something on WoodyBoater. Never saw one before and can appreciate the time it saved keeping a fleet of logging boats running. Thanks, once again for sharing!

  5. Syd
    Syd says:

    Some where I have one at least I did. Will have to check for it. I saw Riggs Smith give a seminar on how to use them it was very interesting. One very important thing missing is a piece of leather to put between the blade and pitch block while you are shaping it

  6. Art
    Art says:

    Henry Smith prop company in Algonac does my props and I wonder if this is how they put a cup in my blades —-interesting

  7. Art
    Art says:

    I just talked to my son Todd who says that Henry Smith does use pitch blocks all the time. One thing that he added, is that they use a torch to heat the prop before BFH.

  8. Darthtrader
    Darthtrader says:

    I used to work in a marina where I used a pitch block and a leather hammer to gently beat the props back into submission.

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