For sale is a true piece of performance-boating history: an original Mercury Racing 835248 3-blade cleaver that was personally lab-finished by the late, great Floyd Hopkins out of Louisiana.
This is old-school, pre-CNC, hand-worked magic from the 1980s–1990s era when Floyd was the go-to prop wizard for Gulf Coast and river racers. The giveaway is the single etched “H” on the barrel — that was Floyd’s signature, and every serious prop guy from Texas to Florida knows it on sight.
The details
• Casting number: 835248 (the legendary Mercury small-shaft cleaver blank)
• 15-tooth spline – direct fit on all 200-300 hp Mercury, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Evinrude 4-strokes and most 2-strokes
• Hopkins aggressive thinning, cupping, rake, and balance work
• Blades are straight, no spins, no repairs, no welds — mirror polish still intact
• Flo-Torq rubber hub is perfect, no play
• Exhaust tube and barrel are clean; previous owner ran it on a 250 Honda with excellent results
Pitch
Floyd etched the final pitch opposite the “H” or deep inside the tube on almost every prop he touched. After inspecting every possible surface under bright light, this one is unmarked (not uncommon on props that were re-cut later or built as one-offs for regular customers). Visually and by blade geometry it falls right in the classic Hopkins 30–32 range — the sweet spot for 250-300 hp rigs on 21-26 ft hulls. Buyer can have it measured on any pitch gauge in 5 minutes if an exact number is required; most racers just slap it on and run because they know Hopkins work carries the mail.
Why these props are still worth big money in 2025
Modern Mercury Racing cleavers are $5,000–$6,500 new. The old Hopkins 835248s consistently outperform them in real-world slip numbers because of the hand thinning and cup Floyd put into every single one. A Hopkins 30–32 will usually turn the same RPM and hit the same (or better) speed as a brand-new factory 33–34. That’s why you still see them on fast bass boats, bay boats, and poker-run cats all over the South.
This prop lived its life on a 250 Honda (previous owner confirmed) and still looks almost new. No rock rash, no bent tips, no stress cracks — ready to bolt on and go 80+ right now, or hang on the wall as a piece of Southern performance history.
No returns on used propellers — sold as-is, but you’re buying a documented Louisiana Floyd Hopkins piece, and those simply do not lose value.
Shipping lower 48 is flat $35 in a heavy-duty prop box with full insurance. International, ask for quote.
If you know, you know. Don’t sleep on the old-school kings.
