Prop Protector USA

We love these America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association stories!

From Record-Setting to Record-Seeking: The Spirit of the Great Loop Lives On | Waterway Guide Just weeks ago, we shared the story of Robert Youens, the 71-year-old Texan who took on America's Great Loop in a 16-foot jon boat. On July 31, 2025, Robert officially crossed his wake, completing the 6,000-mile journey solo in 19 days, 13 hours, and 1 minute—a new world record for the fastest sol...

IT'S FT. LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW TIME!!! We are offering a 20% Boat Show Discount on the Prop Protector plus Free Shipping until the November 4. Avoid unnecessary entanglements and enjoy more time on the water. Easy to install, our 316L stainless cutters have a razor sharp blade - easy to sharpen if necessary and does not require any maintenance/zincs. Just slices right through line, weeds, debris. Priced on average between $200-$300, the Prop Protector is a straightforward and affordable piece of insurance for peace of mind while boating. Contact us today at www.prop-protector-usa.com [email protected] 888-769-7677 for your discount! (Offer good for $15/cutter - thanks).

To celebrate the Labor Day weekend, we are offering a 15% Discount on the Prop Protector plus Free Shipping until the September 10. Avoid unnecessary entanglements and enjoy more time on the water. Easy to install, our 316L stainless cutters have a razor sharp blade - easy to sharpen if necessary and does not require any maintenance/zincs. Just slices right through line, weeds, debris. Priced on average between $200-$300, the Prop Protector is a straightforward and affordable piece of insurance for peace of mind while boating. Contact us today at www.prop-protector-usa.com [email protected] 888-769-7677 for your discount and have a great Holiday weekend! (Offer good for $15/cutter - thanks).

Waterway Guide has a great, timely article, "Avoiding Crab Pots & Trap Markers" which outlines what exactly is out there and various spotting techniques which do work. We have met self-described "very good sailors" at Boat Shows and also met folks who wish they met us earlier!! For, on average, $200-$350, we advise peace of mind with Prop Protectors.

Avoiding Crab Pots & Trap Markers

Date Posted: April 18, 2023
Source: Staff Report
Crabbing season is officially open on the Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina waters, and with it comes the fun of avoiding these markers that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Here's the rundown on why you should avoid them and how they can also help in your navigation.

First, let's get familiar with what these obstacles really are. Every spring/summer, commercial watermen deploy their Blue Crab pots in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, and beginning in October, Floridians and other southern states start their Stone Crab Season.

The terms "pot" and "trap" are interchangeable when referring to the enclosed traps (usually a framework of wire) used to catch crabs in shallow waters. The attached retrieval markers or "pots" can range from colorful buoys or "corks" to empty milk jugs (and pretty much anything else that floats). They are so ubiquitous that some creeks and rivers along the ICW are clogged with pots making navigation tricky. And while most will use bright or neon colors, other dark-colored markers can be especially difficult to see in the best of conditions.

The objects you see floating are markers that are connected to a line that allows the pot/trap sitting on the bottom to be retrieved. Because the lines attached to the pots need to be longer than the water depth to accommodate for tide changes, the line comes up at an angle towards the surface of the attached buoy. You do NOT want to get a line wrapped around your prop!

To determine which direction the line is laying, you should look at how the buoy is being pushed by the tide. Keep to the opposite direction of the line, though best practice is to keep a good distance from the cork altogether. However, sometimes you may have to traverse fields of them, and having a spotter on the foredeck is advisable.

Keep in mind that while it is against the law to place crab pots with marker buoys inside navigational channels, they sometimes can break loose and find their way there. Crab pots can, however, assist with navigation. On many stretches of the ICW, they delimit the channel and can often warn operators when they stray to the edge of the channel.

What are some of your experiences with these obstacles? Share them below.

BOAT SHOWS SPECIAL!!!! 20% Great Loop Discount on the Prop Protector plus Free Shipping until October 25. Avoid unnecessary entanglements and enjoy more time on the water. Easy to install, our 316L stainless cutters have a razor sharp blade - easy to sharpen if necessary and does not require any maintenance/zincs. Just slices right through line, weeds, debris. Priced on average between $200-$300, the Prop Protector is a straightforward and affordable piece of insurance for peace of mind while boating. Contact us today at www.prop-protector-usa.com [email protected] 888-769-7677 for your discount (Offer good for $15/cutter - thanks).

It's Labor Day Weekend and time to celebrate with a
10% discount on Prop Protectors and FREE SHIPPING this week. Avoid unnecessary entanglements and enjoy more time on the water by installing a Prop Protector. Easy to install, our 316L stainless cutters have a razor sharp blade - easy to sharpen if necessary and does not require any maintenance/zincs. Just slices right through line, weeds, debris. Priced on average between $200-$300, the Prop Protector is a straightforward and affordable piece of insurance for peace of mind while boating. Contact us today at www.prop-protector-usa.com [email protected] 888-769-7677 for your discount!

It's just this simple to protect your boat (your time...money...) from needless entanglements. The Prop Protector is easily installed & slices right through line & debris with its razor sharp blade. It's all you need plus no annual maintenance! Contact us today for your JULY FREE SHIPPING SPECIAL: 888-769-7677 www.prop-protector-usa.com [email protected]