removing props

I'm going to have my houseboat props repaired/redressed. Get some of the gunk off of them. They are made of bronze (I think) and run 900 apiece.

It looks simple to remove them, but the yard mechanic at the boat yard says he needs a prop puller. They the HB props get stuck on and you have to have a puller to get em off. Sometimes you even have to heat things up to get it loose. Does this sound right to you?

Wouldnt use heat, the prop puller is the way to go. That darn tapered shaft again.
Wouild be a lot easier if they were splined but i guess the splpines can`t take the HP.