Choosing the right propeller

Choosing the Right Propeller
To some, choosing the right boat propeller can seem like a job for a marine service center. Anything that has to do with the back end of the boat can be a scary thing. Despite popular belief, choosing the correct propeller for a particular boat and motor is actually a fairly simple thing to do, once you understand what a propeller really is.

First think of propeller as a gear, whether it be on a car or even a bicycle. The lower the gear, faster hole shot, more power, but revolutions are much faster so at a point you can only turn that gear so fast until you over rev the engine (or you legs). Now think of your car stuck in only 5th or 6th gear, very slow out of the hole, little torque, but eventually it will catch up with itself so you can cruise to a good speed.

The same basic concept applies to propellers, except with a prop you are committed to only one “gear". So what to do now? Find the prop size that will give the best overall performance. Sound difficult? It's really not.

Your engine has a recommended wide open throttle rpm range. Let take an example of an18' boat with a 125 hp engine with a rpm range of 4500-5500. In most cases you purchase a boat with some sort of propeller on it. Let's say this motor has a 21 pitch prop on it and at wide open throttle under a normal boat load, the engine turns 4900 rpms. Well it's in the range so it's the correct prop, right? Well yes and no. For the health and longevity of the engine it's okay, but for overall performance, you want to run a propeller near the top of the range. Well how do you change the size to get that?

Remember this rule of thumb: For every 2" of propeller pitch, rpm's will change approximately 400 rpm's. As you drop in pitch, rpm's increase, and as you go up in pitch, rpm's decrease. So if we want to raise our rpm's we should choose a lower pitch prop. Following the rule, going down to a 19 pitch should raise our rpm's to about 5300. That would help the hole shot and also gain us some more speed.

As you follow the rule of thumb, remember that sometimes rules are meant to be broken. This is not an iron clad rule, sometimes varying 2" of pitch will only change rpm's by 200. Switching prop brands or manufacturer, it can sometimes throw off the rule too.

At this point the most important thing to understand is that less pitch means more rpm's, more pitch means less rpms. For your boat to perform at its peak, you need to run at the upper end of your engine's recommended rpm range. That's it. Once you're there and still want more speed, handling, lift, etc, that's when choosing the right propeller brand comes into play.

Here's a simple adjustment you can make to improvement performance under varying boatloads: If you normally run with one other person on board, use that boatload as your measurement when determining your wide open throttle rpm's. But if you sometimes load the boat with 2-5 more people or try pulling a water skier or tube, get another prop 2" of pitch lower than your normal prop. It will compensate for added weight and drag and make a huge improvement on performance in these circumstances. But remember to keep an eye on you rpm's when running a lower pitch for these circumstances.

Most boat props have the size marked somewhere on the prop, either on the barrel, on the blades, or in the front or back of the propeller. Use that pitch that you're currently running as your starting point. If it's already running correctly then that pitch is your pitch.

Interchangeable hub saves boaters money.

Today, the interchangeable hub system is very well known and accepted. But many boaters don't understand or take advantage of it's benefits when shopping for boat propellers. Cost savings on future propellers is the obvious benefit. However, many boaters use this advantage when it's too late by not carrying a spare prop when you need one. If someone purchases an interchangeable prop and hub system for the first time, they should always purchase a second propeller as a spare. You don't want to ruin a boating weekend by not having a spare boat propeller when you need it. This concept is especially important when purchasing a prop and hub online. Boaters save on time and shipping when they get their spare prop with the purchase. The hub kit will adapt to a variety of pitches, so if the boat is used for water sports or heavier loads at times, the second prop should be a lower pitch.

Turning Point's new MasterGuard Hub System features a new industry break through in design technology. This hub is used in each boat propeller from Turning Point. Every hub adapts to the OEM thrust washer and now has minimal washers and adapter parts. The smaller design allows for more exhaust flow and higher horsepower. Specially designed keyway system using an advanced polymer cushion absorbs damaging shock and vibrations and still is the more durable hub available.

The interchangeable hub is available in both aluminum and stainless steel propellers.

For a huge discount on aluminum and stainless steel boat propellers, visit eBuyersWorld.com

First Time Prop Replacement?

Boat Propellers - First Time Prop Replacement?
by: Sebastian Romero

Are you a fan of boating, who has never replaced a propeller before? It is common to feel inexperienced in this area – particularly if you are new to the sport. Boat propellers come in a bewildering array of sizes, shapes and configurations. There is no need to be daunted, however, as searching for this vital part online allows you to find out about and browse the different types at your leisure.

Often, you will find that the propeller was made for the particular brand of boat. Although it might be the same size as other brands, they may not be compatable by design. However, check with the manual of your boat, it will say how much flexibility there is when choosing new parts.

The main factor however is to match the size of the propeller to the power of the engine – as this will make sure your boat runs at the correct balanced speed.

The best internet sites that deal in boating equipment offer to personally match the brand and size of the product with the engine and power of your boat. You should take advantage of this, as it can be hard to send important equipment like this back because it needs to be sold brand new for safety.

However, it is also impossible to perfectly match the equipment to the engine 100 per cent of the time, so many dealers offer to replace the blades rather than the whole propeller if you are dissatisfied. This works very well for both parties, as it is the size of the blades rather than the difficult to repair internal mechanism that affects the speed and power of a propeller.

Another dilemma is what material the product should be made from. Experts agree that by far the best option is a composite metal. This has been proved in certain studies to exceed the durability and performance of both stainless steel and aluminium models. Many also have a greater tensile strength than their conventional counterparts.

Check whether the manufacturer highlights the non-corrosiveness of the metal. A failure to mention this can suggest an inferior product. A lifetime warrantee is another excellent indicator of the reliability of the material.

Boat propellers have traditionally only been mended by experienced mechanics. However, manufacturers are changing this by selling mending equipment that is specially designed for thier product. This has the potential to save you much money and hassle.

Other new technology includes propellers that come with replaceable blades. The blades can now be changed by people with little experience, rather than in the past when they had to be sent back to the shop. This also limits the need for repair work that can damage the equipment in the long term – such as welding, heating, beating and bending.

Make sure that any replacement blades you buy are definitly new, however. Since it is partly the quality of the metal that controls the performance and accuracy of the propeller, it is important not to let this deteriorate over time.

Find specialist help at http://www.boat-propellers.info
Article from articlecity.com

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Stainless Steel Boat Propellers add performance

Express props are the perfect boat prop for bass, walleye, family fishing, offshore boats, run-a-bouts, and weekenders. Express gives boats maximum speed and secure handling on tight turns at wide open throttle.

The Express propeller from Turning Point Propellers provides all-around high performance for everyone from pro fishermen to weekend boaters. This stainless steel prop is ideal for just about any engine from 40 to 300+ hp with a 4-1/4" or 4-3/4" gearcase.

Delivering maximum speed and secure handling on tight turns at wide open throttle, the Express propeller is perfect for bass, walleye, family fishing, offshore and runabout boats. The unique blade design, available in 15", 17", 19", 21" or 23" pitches, allows for versatile use and gives boats a quicker hole shot, faster time to plane and greater lift.

At the heart of the Express prop housing is Turning Point's redesigned MasterGuard interchangeable hub system. Smaller and stronger, the hub utilizes a high-tech polymer material that efficiently absorbs damaging shift shock and engine vibrations. The small diameter allows optimal exhaust flow for better fuel efficiency and peak horsepower.

Do you use your boat for waterskiing, tubing, or putting extra people on board for a cruise around the lake or down the river? Purchase a 2 nd propeller at a lower pitch to help compensate for the added weight and drag. You will notice a big improvement in how your boat performs under those conditions. Don't forget you can carry a spare Hustler aluminum propeller that will adapt to the same hub.

Prop Wizard recommends pitch based on boat and motor info

Which prop do I need?
No more guessing, no more asking the so called experts. eBuyersWorld.com has the answer! Use our Prop Wizard program to find out which boat propeller is best for you. The program even recommends a pitch for water sports! The Prop Wizard works in conjunction with the industry's leading performance propeller company - Turning Point Propellers!

Depending on your boat and motor combination, you'll be able to choose from Rascal, Hustler, Express or SpeedZone performance boat propellers.

Visit eBuyersWorld.com for more information!

Rascal Aluminum Boat Propellers add performance

NEW for 2007: Rascal 9.9 and 15 series propellers! The only 9.9hp prop available with an interchangeable hub system designed to save you money!

Rascal aluminum boat propellers improve the overall performance of your small horsepower engine with specially designed propeller blades maximize your top speed, acceleration, and grip on the water – no more blowouts caused by excess ventilation! Rascal aluminum propellers are the best performing props available for your engine. Just because you don't have high horsepower, doesn't mean that your boat still can't perform.

The Rascal aluminum boat propeller series features increased blade surfaces and improved geometry for great all-around performance. Now, boaters can get more power from their lower horsepower engines.



Typical OEM and aftermarket propellers in this series have little if any cupping, and the blade designs are swept back. We've noticed through our testing that other propellers have serious ventilation problems. Our new designs have improved on OEM and other aftermarket designs, and now Rascal propellers are the best overall performing propellers for smaller horsepower motors.

True High Performance Propellers

True High Performance Aluminum and Stainless Steel Boat Props from Turning Point. But what makes a boat propeller High Performance? The secret is in the blade design. Turning Point Propellers uses a sophisticated, scientific method in its designs. Variables such as rake, pitch progression, cupping, blade area and blade thickness of the blades all come into play. If a propeller is tuned correctly taking into account these variables, it will dramatically increase the overall performance.

But how can these marine propellers perform better than OEM props if they design them for their motors? It's relatively easy. Turning Point tests the performance of all boat props and makes sure that they run better than OEM and aftermarket props. Of course a Turning Point may not run the fastest on every boat, but to say it is the fastest 9 times of 10 is fair. Turning Point designs its aluminum and stainless steel boat propellers to not only run fast, but also provide superior handling on sharp turns at high speeds. Once you get your new Turning Point prop, give it a good strong test, and you'll see and feel the difference.