Propeller worries

[Spindrift]

I'd welcome some thoughts and comments please.

So here's the thing. I finally got my boat back into the water last month and it was a huge success, that is until, it turns out, I did irreparable damage to the prop on the shingle of Blakeny Point. I love Norfolk.

I sent the prop off for repair to Steel Developments in south London, but they are unable to do anything with it, unfortunately, so I now need a new prop. The engine is a 1962 Kiekhaefer Merc 500 (50hp) and the prop is an 9" dia. 11-splined 17-pitch job. Apparently, these can be tricky to get hold of, so does anyone know where I might be able to lay my hands on one?

If I can't get hold of a prop of this spec, I wonder what the alternatives might be (oars?), although I recognise that a different pitch will affect engine performance.

Looking forward to reading the Summer issue of the magazine, which arrived this morning.