Mercury uses the various sizes of PVS plugs to fine tune their props for hole-shot. Getting the plugs out can be a little difficult. I saw a tip from one of the prop guys to use the female end of a ratchet extension to tap them in and the male end to remove them. I found removing them to be difficult so I tried a little paint can opener tool I had. Lowes will give you the opener when you buy paint. The business end of this tool looks like a flat screw driver blade with the tip bent 90 degrees to form a hook. I inserted them into the PVS plug opening and hooked the inside flange and gave it a tug. The plug popped right out and no need to remove the prop. Won't work on the solid plugs unless you drill a hole in them but I doubt most people use the solids. Works great and the tool is free.
BTW when I want to remove the prop I also used this tool to straighten the tabs on the lock washer Mercury uses with their props to keep the nut from backing off. Just hook the bent tabs and pull to straighten them.
Modified by HighFiveBassin at 3:21 PM 4/18/2005