took the blade off yesterday- learned a good lesson- I will take it off every year.
I have had the boat two seasons, not sure when zinc had been changed last ( it looked to be in good shape, if the prop blade had not broke, i don't think I would have touched it) . Anyway, the screw holding the zinc wouldn't turn (it was fused to the zinc) had to turn the zinc with vise grips (not easy to do in the tunnel) the whole zinc, screw, and propeller nut came off as one. The propeller nut was also fuzed to the inside zinc. Cut /split the zinc off the prop nut today with dremel and hack saw, nut is in great shape, and good to go. I called Imtra this week, ordered blade (came in 2 days Boston to NY) and ordered 3 zinc's. Imtra said to use bottom paint on prop to keep barnacles down. I plan to remove the prop each year (just like I do on engines) and change zinc each year. DONE!