Have a 17'6" Tracker Crappie Pro with a 60 Hp Merc on it, beat up the prop pretty good yesterday running the river below Granbury dam. Would it be worth while to upgrade to a stainless prop? I know it makes a big difference on higher performance boats, but what advantages would it be for this boat?

Has a 14P on it now, and looks like I need a new one if anyone has one lying around. Boat jumps up on pad and goes, so I don't even know if it would be worth while trying to tweak the pitch and see if I can get any more top end.

I bent the prop on my Tracker (75hp) a week or two ago. I just replaced it with a new aluminum prop like what came on it. $120.

I vote for sticking with aluminum. Even though they are supposed to slip, I have had some techs tell me chances of bending a shaft are higher with stainless??

here are the percentages

over all the years of me doing props.

you will typically repair or replace 10 alum props, vs 1 sst prop. so the numbers are on the side of the sst prop.

now, i know people say.. but an alum prop hits something your less likely to bend a prop shaft vs the sst prop.
okay... somewhat true. however... 75% of the time we hit something at idle or slow plane.. which typically wont bend a prop
shaft.... but, will bend an alum prop.
i can tell you, i've seen a bunch of bent prop shaft with alum props vs sst over my years too.

run the numbers.
1 sst prop... 250-299
10 alum props at 100.00- 150.00

which scenario do you think is best?

I would buy a stainless prop and be done with it. I used to run aluminum on 25hp outboards and did ok, but on 50hp and larger, I prefer SS...

thanks for your insight

So would you stick with the same size when going SS?