Boat Propeller Information
Ever wonder what those numbers on your outboard's propeller mean, or what most propellers are made of? You can use those numbers and the number of blades to change your boat's performance and fuel efficiency.
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Described by Numbers
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The first number is the diameter of the circle made by the propeller's blades. The second number is the pitch of the prop.
Pitch
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The pitch of a propeller is how far, in inches, it will move the boat ahead through water in one revolution of the blades. If a propeller has a pitch of 22, that means it will move the boat ahead 22 inches for each full rotation of the blades.
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Materials
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Propellers can be made of brass, aluminum, stainless steel, or bronze. Most recreational boat propellers are either aluminum or stainless steel.
Installation
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Most propellers can be installed with an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver. Use the screwdriver to remove the propeller "cup" and the wrench to remove the propeller.
The Number of Blades
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The more blades your propeller has, the quicker and more efficiently you'll get "up on plane." With three or four blades, though, you'll have more flexibility across a greater range of speeds.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Morguefile
