Marine Accessories

If the only reason you are using a stainless steel boat propeller is because it is nice and shiny then use stainless steel but if you want a boat propeller that works just as well at a less cost to you then you should choose from aluminum propellers and you will be very happy in their performance.  Aluminum propellers come in many sizes and with their price you will not have a problem affording a second aluminum propeller for your boat.  If you damage aluminum propellers you probably not hurt your out drive because aluminum propellers will give more and are a lot less expensive to repair than a stainless steel propeller.

If you have a boat with an outboard engine having a good condition outboard propeller is just as important as a good propeller on a inboard engine.  Outboard propellers should be kept in good condition because if they are damaged they will be unbalanced and will cause damage to your engine.  Outboard propellers come in both aluminum and stainless steel with a lot of different sizes just make sure you check your owners manual to make sure you are using the correct outboard propeller.

Having extra Turning Point Propellers on you boat is a very good because if you damage the propeller on your boat you can replace it you can put a new one on your boat from Turning Point Propellers.  Using a damaged propeller on your boat can cause a lot of damage to you out drive to will be very expensive to repair which is why you should have an extra boat propeller from Turning Point Propellers.  Turning Point Propellers manufactures a very large selection of boat propellers that will fit your price range.

A lot of boat manufactures put aluminum propellers on the boats the manufacture which means that using an aluminum propeller is okay for that boat.  Aluminum propellers perform as well as stainless steel boat propellers they just get damaged a lot easier but aluminum propellers are a lot less costly to repair.  Aluminum Propellers are a lot less in cost compared to stainless steel and do not have the nice shine on them as a stainless steel propeller does

Good condition boat propellers is one of the most important things to do for your boat because boat propellers in good shape will not hurt your outdrive and give you a lot better economy when out boating.  It really does not make any difference weither you are using aluminum or stainless steel boat propellers it is really important to keepo your boat propellers in good shape, you should even carry a back up boat propeller just in case you damage the one on your boat.

Do not be afraid to use an aluminum boat propeller because you think they are less expensive and will not work as well as a stainless steel boat propeller.  Aluminum propellers work very well they just do not shine like a stainless steel boat propeller does but if you want to pay the higher price for the stainless steel propeller that is OK then choose your size from all the aluminum propellers and use it as a back up propeller.  Aluminum propellers are also a lot less expensive to repair than a stainless steel propeller.

Taking care of a propeller does not differ between and outboard  engine or an inboard because  the propeller on both engines perform the same thing.  Outboard propellers do have some smaller sizes to fit some of the small outboard engines and the difference between an aluminum and stainless steel outboard propeller is the same as on a inboard engine.  If damage is done to outboard propellers the damage to the lower part of the engine can be very serious so make sure you keep your outboard propellers in good condition.

Some people think that if you have an outboard motor on your boat that a damaged outboard propeller will no damage the lower unit of your outboard engine will guess what a damaged outboard propeller will damage the out drive just like a inboard outboard.  Just like any boat that uses a boat propeller you should have a spare outboard propeller just in case you damage the one on your outboard engine.

It is important to you, as a boater, to understand the basics of boat propellers. This will enable you to determine the propeller that is best suited for your application. The following is only a guide; to save time, ask your marine dealer or boat manufacturer for advice on selecting a boat propeller.

The propeller on your outboard motor is the means by which the horsepower, developed by the engine, is converted into thrust to propel your boat. As such, its care and selection is very important to insure continuous service and satisfactory performance.

Several boat propeller options are available to you, if you want to change your performance for better top end speed or to increase load carrying performance.

Materials

Composite and plastic propellers are generally used for emergency situations. Aluminum boat propellers, being the most common, have reasonable durability for most applications.

Stainless steel boat propellers are stronger than most all other propeller materials. Some advantages are longer life and high hydrodynamic efficiency derived from stiffer blades.

Diameter

Diameter is simply the width of the circle described by the rotating blades

Pitch

Pitch is the angle of the blades expressed in inches of theoretical travel in one revolution of the propeller. This boat propeller has a pitch that will theoretically result in 24in. of forward travel in one revolution. In use, the propeller experiences slippage so that its actual travel per revolution is less than the stated pitch.

Rake

Rake is the measurement of the angle of the tilt of the blade’s tip toward or away from the gearcase. The angle is measured on a line extending from the center of the hub through the center of one blade.

Propeller Cup

Cup is the added curved lip on the trailing edge or blade tip. This added curvature will increase pitch when added to the trailing edge and increase rake when added to the tip. Cupping a propeller will cause a decrease in RPM. The actual amount of RPM decrease is dependent on where, how much, and the quality of the cupping. Cupping also tends to decrease ventilation and allows higher trim angles and transom settings

I think that people that own boats with outboard engines think that they do not have to maintain their outboard propellers because whenever I see boat with the engine up I see a beat up propeller which is very harmful to the engine because of the vibration it causes.  It is not a big deal to keep your outboard propellers in good working condition, their are a lot of places that repair them and a lot of places sell them just make sure you check and see what size of propeller you boat engine should have and keeping a spare propeller is not a bad idea.