Prop is stainless by mercury, 23 pitch. I bought it when I bought the boat back in 2008. Motor can be brought high up to a trailer postion but still would be difficult to change in the water with waves breaking on you. I do have 2 paddles and a trolling motor for it as well.
Yea crazy to be that far out in a small boat, said the swells reached 14 foot. I intend to keep about 20 gallons of freshwater and 20 of fuel aboard and the boat has a full bimini top. I would like to just travel from like 6 - 7 am to 12- 1 everyday in order to stay out of the summer heat and spends the afternoons docked and resting. I'll defintely check into the coast gaurd class.