Mad Props - Shout out to Hill Marine!

[Bigbore500r]

I stopped by Hill Marine this morning to pickup my props. They were mangled pretty bad from clipping an under water tree stump in a cove on Lake Powell. So bad it actually tore the hub out of one. To make matters worse - I had to get the boat back to camp, so I had removed the props and beat them back into shape over a rock! I had a few shops tell me they most likely couldn’t fix them.

Well....Hill Marine fixed them better than new. These bitches are sexy!

The price was amazing as well. Can’t thank these guys enough. The icing on the cake was they did them in 1 week, and got them back to me before Labor Day weekend.

Thank you Hill Marine!

Here’s some cool pics of their waiting room. As many know, Mr. Hill is a legend....

 

[RodnJen]

Still tossing around the idea of their B3 setup. Glad you had a good experience.

 

[redone76]

Got nothing but good things to say about them too. Fixed up my 3 blade stainless prop after I clipped something in Parker. Price was fair and the turn around was impressive


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[Runs2rch]

Shiny!!!!

 

[Socalx09]

Got my dad a signature four prop from them a few years ago. He loved it. Hit it about a month ago- turn around was 5 business days and looked brand new. They are awesome.

Might have to get another one since we aren’t hitting the correct RPMs with the rebuilt engine.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Is this Hill Marine or Ron Hill? 2 different shops.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Mad Props
Pun intended?

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Is this Hill Marine or Ron Hill? 2 different shops.

Separate, this is Ron Hill / Signature Propellers

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Separate, this is Ron Hill / Signature Propellers

Thats what i mean. I have a Laser II that was worked over by Hill Marine by the previous owner and I have a Ron Hill prop. Thats why I wanted to get the OP to clarify so the correct shop gets the credit.

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[Bigbore500r]

Is this Hill Marine or Ron Hill? 2 different shops.

Ron Hill is Hill Marine. His son chad runs the place now. They manufacture new props under the “signature propeller” name as well.

Bronson-Hill was the other shop, I don’t believe they are in buiz anymore.

Here’s a blast from the past...I remember reading this a while back

https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/anybody-know-much-about-hill-props.95893/

 

[lbhsbz]

Separate, this is Ron Hill / Signature Propellers

separate? Same show I thought. I've dealt with the establishment (s?) 3 times. The first time, I bought a good used prop from him who's blades looked liked pringles chips...it didn't work for shit...at the same time, I sent him my old prop that worked well but had developed a crack...right after I'd had Augie at Cutting Edge fix it...and I should have made a desk lamp out of it at that point because when I got it back from Augie it was a fucking work of art...but it cracked again between the ramp and the beach. Ron (or Chad) said it might be too thin to fix again, so they shipped it back to me in a fucking paper bag from Ralph's...didn't have a ding on it when I dropped it off, had several nice dings when I got it back. Then I bought a 24P Eagle 4 on ebay out of Ron's clearance pile...best prop I've ever had on the boat....but the poor old 2.4L merc spun it to a bit over 7000rpms...so i decided to buy a 26P...figuring it would pull the rippems down enough to get it back at the top of the powerband and go a bit faster....found one on ebay, sold by Ron's shop in Costa Mesa...lost a bunch of hole shot, lost 6 mph, and turned 7100-7200 rippems. Called him the next weekend and evidently this was some special prop he'd made for someone in the middle east...who it didn't work for, and Ron replaced it with a different more standard offer unit, which worked even worse on his boat, so he wanted his original prop back...which Ron had already sold, to me. I went down to the shop, Ron trade me that prop for another 26P Eagle 4...which still ran like a smaller prop than the 24P I have....so I sold it. If you have enough money to buy 20 of the same props from Ron Hill...you'll likely find one that beats the shit out of everything else out there....if you can only afford one or 2 at a time, it's seems to be a crapshoot. I'll be buried with that 24P that I've got...because I don't think it's really a 24P...the slip numbers seem almost impossible for it to be a 24P....but it runs harder and faster than anything else I've used.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Ron and son Chad have always been a huge help when I was racing. Marlee Hill still races and does very well in stock outboard and 45 classes.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Ron Hill is Hill Marine. His son chad runs the place now. They manufacture new props under the “signature propeller” name as well.

Bronson-Hill was the other shop, I don’t believe they are in buiz anymore.

Here’s a blast from the past...I remember reading this a while back

https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/anybody-know-much-about-hill-props.95893/

Ok, THATS what I was thinking of. Bronson Hill. At one point if I remember correctly, their logos were pretty similar as well which didn't help with the confusion.

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[BUDMAN]

They turned out awsome Jerry. Where’s the before pic for comparison?

 

[DaBank]

Jerry,

Ron did those props for me also. Did a excellent job back then and from the look of them he still does.

 

[Ouderkirk]

I bought their Stainless Bravo Gimbal Ring about 10 years ago. Works great, looks great and have zero issues with it. Took the stainless swivel pins with it at the time. Cheaper than OEM, and better all around.

 

[GETBOATS]

I was Ron's crew chief back 1981, ran Mod vp for 6 years, terrific family, great times. Byron Bronson bought Hill marine sometime in the early 90's. Byron was the announcer for OPC racing back then. Don't recall when Byron passed away, but yes Chad runs Hill marine now, Ron is busy and I mean busy, even at 77, he never stands still.

 

[Bigbore500r]

View attachment 678672

Jerry,

Ron did those props for me also. Did a excellent job back then and from the look of them he still does.

They always worked perfect , I hope it feels the same!

 

[Wayn-o]

Nothing but great things to say about Chad and his crew. Very helpful, take a prop and try it and bring it back if you dont like it. Chad has a Hallet Vector as well so he knew what prop I should run straight up

 

[RiverDave]

Hill Marine is Chad Hill / Ron Hill (Signature propellers etc..)

I believe there is a second shop called "Bronson Hill" but I'm not sure if they are still in biz or not?

I've always had great customer service and dealings with the Hill family (Hill Marine)

RD

 

[RiverDave]

separate? Same show I thought. I've dealt with the establishment (s?) 3 times. The first time, I bought a good used prop from him who's blades looked liked pringles chips...it didn't work for shit...at the same time, I sent him my old prop that worked well but had developed a crack...right after I'd had Augie at Cutting Edge fix it...and I should have made a desk lamp out of it at that point because when I got it back from Augie it was a fucking work of art...but it cracked again between the ramp and the beach. Ron (or Chad) said it might be too thin to fix again, so they shipped it back to me in a fucking paper bag from Ralph's...didn't have a ding on it when I dropped it off, had several nice dings when I got it back. Then I bought a 24P Eagle 4 on ebay out of Ron's clearance pile...best prop I've ever had on the boat....but the poor old 2.4L merc spun it to a bit over 7000rpms...so i decided to buy a 26P...figuring it would pull the rippems down enough to get it back at the top of the powerband and go a bit faster....found one on ebay, sold by Ron's shop in Costa Mesa...lost a bunch of hole shot, lost 6 mph, and turned 7100-7200 rippems. Called him the next weekend and evidently this was some special prop he'd made for someone in the middle east...who it didn't work for, and Ron replaced it with a different more standard offer unit, which worked even worse on his boat, so he wanted his original prop back...which Ron had already sold, to me. I went down to the shop, Ron trade me that prop for another 26P Eagle 4...which still ran like a smaller prop than the 24P I have....so I sold it. If you have enough money to buy 20 of the same props from Ron Hill...you'll likely find one that beats the shit out of everything else out there....if you can only afford one or 2 at a time, it's seems to be a crapshoot. I'll be buried with that 24P that I've got...because I don't think it's really a 24P...the slip numbers seem almost impossible for it to be a 24P....but it runs harder and faster than anything else I've used.

I'm not pointing fingers or saying anything negative at all here.. but I'm noticing you seem to have a lot of problems with a lot of different shops?

RD

 

[Bigbore500r]

Hill Marine is Chad Hill / Ron Hill (Signature propellers etc..)

I believe there is a second shop called "Bronson Hill" but I'm not sure if they are still in biz or not?

I've always had great customer service and dealings with the Hill family (Hill Marine)

RD

Yep

 

[SoCalDave]

Jerry, did you know Ron has a place in Rio Buena Vista as well?

 

[WildWilly]

Just there yesterday and got to listen to a few good Ron Hill stories lol

 

[SoCalDave]

Just there yesterday and got to listen to a few good Ron Hill stories lol

Yeah when Ron gets a hold of your ear you might as well plan on staying a while. He's got some good stories to share.

 

[77charger]

Yeah when Ron gets a hold of your ear you might as well plan on staying a while. He's got some good stories to share.

LOL i was there getting my prop about three weeks ago was closing time and he began talking.Got a tour around the shop and were talking off road to politics cool guy for sure.Think i was there for an hour more than planned.

As for their work been happy with it they have done a great job repairing my dings and is easy to drop off and pick up since there on my way home.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Jerry, did you know Ron has a place in Rio Buena Vista as well?

I heard that!

 

[lbhsbz]

I'm not pointing fingers or saying anything negative at all here.. but I'm noticing you seem to have a lot of problems with a lot of different shops?

RD

I

I'm not pointing fingers or saying anything negative at all here.. but I'm noticing you seem to have a lot of problems with a lot of different shops?

RD

I don't have problems with a lot of shops, I have had problems with exactly 2 boat related shops that I've used over the last 20 years....the only 2 boat related shops I've used over the last 20 years. Why do you think I have a machine shop, 5 welders, and all the support equipment in my garage? No shop will ever do the kind of job that one can do themselves when one has more time than money. Shops need to make money doing work for me. I don't need to make money doing work for me. I can take my time and put forth the attention to detail to do it best....No shop will do that...they will balance quality and profit, since they obviously need to stay profitable to survive. Lot's of people have asked me to do work them...and while I can halfass things with the best of them, that's not the kind of work we're talking about. My usual reply is "you can't afford me". I didn't buy all my equipment and tooling to make money, I bought it to make things the way I want to make them...for me.

I get pissed off when I pay good money for something that is not as represented...Unfortunately, an investment casting foundry isn't in the cards for me right now....but I have built the tooling to build a proper berkeley / dominator pump....that I used once, for mine.

Hill Marine built the best prop I've ever owned...it does everything right...and it shouldn't, but it does. I'm just a bit pissed that I need that same prop with a wee tad more pitch and can't seem to get one. I'd have this 24 reworked, but I'm afraid that it'd get fucked up and not be as good as is now...which I won't chance. It has a better hole shot than a thru hub 21 pitch ski prop and better top end than the 2 28P choppers I've ran, as well as the 26P merc chopper and the 27P Mazco chopper...with considerably better handling characteristics at speed. I just want those same things without turning this poor old 2.4L over 7000RPMs.

 

[boater250s]

I picked up this prop from Ron Hill this week works great on my Miller v- Drive really happy with it - three blade