My Spinelli Experience

**DangerNewb** · 08-03-2021, 08:25 PM

Early last summer, I paid Doug $1,000 for a prop for my Seebold Ski Eagle. I had heard good things about the props and thought I'd give one a try. Doug sent me 3 or 4 different props over 3 or 4 months, non of which worked very well at all on my boat. I had been running a Hill Eagle 4 blade 28 pitch. The Hill was about 14.75 diameter and had larger blades than a Merc ET. I tried some others and always went back to the Hill.

Anyhow, all of the props he sent me slipped horribly. I encouraged him to try something with more blade area or at least more cup. After 3 or 4 different props it became clear that I was just going to have to settle on something. I ended up with a 32 DR4, the extra pitch was an attempt to deal with the slip. the Ski Eagle sticks to the water and doesn't free up until 70 plus mph. It needed a lot of trim to free it up and seemed to need more "traction" during mid range cruise. Nothing he sent dealt with these factors very well.

So about 1 hour into running the DR4, I was running in about 50 feet of water at the bottom end of large reservoir and I heard a clunk and felt vibration. I limped back to the dock and discovered this.

I sent Doug a few pics and said "we have a problem". It took him a couple of weeks to respond. He said he wanted to "see the prop" and said he'd never had one break. I questioned whether it was cast or welded and he assured me it was cast. I'm not a metallurgist, but if this prop was cast, it seems the steel wasn't nearly hot enough to fill in the entire space or it was welded very poorly.

Either way, when Doug got the prop he said, "the casting is fine, As I"m sure you noticed, the prop hit something and that is not covered under warranty". He also said it's clear you hit something since the blades in front of the broken blade were damaged and not the blade after the broken blade. I'm not sure he understands right hand rotation. The 2 blades following the broken blade were dinged up. Dinged by the blade that broke off in my opinion. I've never seen a broken prop with pockets or voids in the material. Looking at this, I'm surprised it stayed together as long as it did.

Anyhow, I'm a live and let live sort of guy. I asked Doug to send my broken prop back to me. Also asked for a 50% refund and I'll move on.

He refused both.

It's been over a year. I've texted him several times since with no response. So I figured I'd share my story so the next guy can consider what happened to me before he drops a grand or more on a new prop. Maybe this was a one off deal. I have no way of knowing. I can post pics of all the texts but don't really care to waste more time. I will say I immediately asked him to send my $1k paperweight back to me. it would make a cool coffee table piece at my lake place.

Anyhow, happy boating to everyone.

**sonicss33** · 08-04-2021, 06:50 AM

That’s just crappy and now you have to deal with the collateral damage to the lower as well.

**DangerNewb** · 08-04-2021, 07:31 AM

I fixed the lower last year. It was the last new 2.5 sporty in Fond Du Lac when I bought it. Had maybe 25 hrs on it when it broke.

**Mrzip** · 08-04-2021, 07:53 AM

I don't understand why he wouldn't return your property to you ?

**mrichartz** · 08-04-2021, 08:03 AM

Wait so hes not returning your prop that you paid $1000 for, broken or not its yours and no refund at all? Keep hearing bad stories about them.. And why wont he return it because if someone knowledgeable could see that the prop was **** to begin with? Thats a serious question. Really crappy way to do business..

**DangerNewb** · 08-04-2021, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by mrichartz

Wait so hes not returning your prop that you paid $1000 for, broken or not its yours and no refund at all? Keep hearing bad stories about them.. And why wont he return it because if someone knowledgeable could see that the prop was **** to begin with? Thats a serious question. Really crappy way to do business..

You are exactly correct. No prop and no $$. Silence. I'm sure he's in contact with Greg trying to get the post taken down. I don't think Greg will as he tried to get Doug to make it right last summer when it happened.

**mrichartz** · 08-04-2021, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by DangerNewb

You are exactly correct. No prop and no $$. Silence. I'm sure he's in contact with Greg trying to get the post taken down. I don't think Greg will as he tried to get Doug to make it right last summer when it happened.

Post shouldn't be taken down...hes being a scumbag if hes going to do business like that.

**XstreamVking** · 08-04-2021, 08:51 AM

Damn shame Spinelli was one of the best. To have good customer relations you have to trust the customer just as he trusts the prop mfg. That metal was def bad with all the voids in it.

**CUDA** · 08-04-2021, 09:25 AM

I thought they changed hands, been almost 40 years since I've been there.

I'll call my brother he is a NY attorney to see what he advises, total BS.

**DangerNewb** · 08-04-2021, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by CUDA

I thought they changed hands, been almost 40 years since I've been there.

I'll call my brother he is a NY attorney to see what he advises, total BS.

Yeah, I don't think Doug has owned the company for very long. Maybe the last 5 years or something in that range but I'm not really sure. I'm not really interested in pursuing legal remedy. Not worth the hassle. I've long ago written off the $1k and the cost of welding my lower. Live and learn.

**David** · 08-04-2021, 10:13 AM

The original guys are long gone. The props above look like voids/porosity defects to my semi trained eyes

**rock** · 08-04-2021, 11:04 AM

Glad you posted. Add another one to my list.

Rock

**DangerNewb** · 08-04-2021, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy

Well, when I get into the market for a new prop, I know what I am not going to get!

And yea, looks like voids to me too. And you wonder why he wouldn't send it back?

Good thing you snapped some pics!

Yep. No way I was sending it off without close up pics.

**Mrzip** · 08-04-2021, 12:03 PM

I would take my receipt & go get it.

**kellytheaker** · 08-04-2021, 12:27 PM

I understand your frustration - I have seen this thread before I believe - and the negative it leaves is strong .
Sounds like he - Spinelli - was trying hard to assist you in the first 6 months by trading props back and forth and then a blade slung off and he quit and stopped the loss - meaning he felt he had tried to assist and it was enough .
Personally I would have handed your dough back and finished it that way but he - Spinelli didn't choose that path .
I suggest calling him again and discuss with him an opportunity to remove your thread with the return of your dough . That would be fair . I am certain he has had reflection on the matter as have you - and I'm thinking Greg has had to discuss this as well .
Work with him/Spinelli - aggressively and respectfully to seek resolution .