Any Max Prop (regardless of model) can have the pitch checked and/or adjusted underwater by a knowledgable diver. Contact PYI for a diver recommendation in your area.
-- PYI Inc. Max-Prop PSS Shaft Seal Seaview Radar Mounts R&D --
We had a casualty with our MaxProp about 10 years ago. Some idiot had placed a cinderblock with a polypropylene line about a boat length off our dock. We didn't see it, as it was not visible from the helm. Anyway, we drove over it and picked up the line, winching the cinderblock into the prop and stalling the motor.
When we got back to the dock, my son--an experienced SCUBA diver--dove on the prop and proceeded to clear the mess and then disassembled the MaxProp. That was before we called PYI for advice: all the blades had been symmetrically torn and dog-eared. Well, they said it was unfortunate that we took it apart underwater and didn't have a diver recommendation for our area. They did, however, mail us a manual that showed us what we were dealing with. We had lost the indices for prop pitch (both forward and reverse) when it was taken apart, but were able to get the settings from the owner of a sister ship and then transfer them to the prop using the information from the manual.
Long story short: My son was able to reassemble the prop with the proper pitch, using an hour and a half of air. Luckily, we were able to get the boat to a marina for haul out without requiring a tow. Due to the symmetry of the damage, there was no excess vibration at low speed. (We do have SeaTow, but were comfortable keeping them for backup in this case.)
The bottom line: PYI knows what they're talking about when they recommend someone knowledgeable for underwater MaxProp work. However, if you are stuck, you can work on the prop with SCUBA gear and a lot of patience, but this is not a job for a novice diver or someone who is not extremely careful with small parts--none of which float!
