To some, choosing the right boat propeller can seem like a job for a marine service center. Anything that has to do with the backend 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, their is little difference between stainless steel boat propellers and aluminum boat propellers.

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 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.

If you damage your propeller it is probably not a good idea to try and fix it yourself, their a lot of prop repair shops that can fix your propeller properly.  Using your boat with a damaged propeller makes the propeller unbalanced and this will cause strain on your out drive which will lead to a very expensive repair job.  It is a good idea to carry an extra propeller on your boat so that if you damage your express stainless steel propeller you would have a back up aluminum boat propeller with a different pitch this would give you a ski propeller as well as a cruising propeller.

Now that we have been boating we are finding out our boat is not working as we had hoped and one good way to help this is to make sure our propeller is in good condition.  Incorporating the newest and efficient design features based from high-performance stainless steel propellers, Hustler aluminum boat propellers run away from competition. Hustler High Performance series propellers are the only aluminum propeller manufactured with performance enhancing vent holes. There’s a Hustler propeller perfect for almost any boating application.

There are a number of simple practices that can improve boat engine performance and fuel economy on the water. For example, it’s important to scrape the hull of the boat on a regular basis. When barnacles, grit, and other particles build up on the hull, it can make the boat move at a much slower pace, as the drag is increased. It’s also important to perform regular checks of the boat propeller. Throughout their lifetime, most boat propellers will scrape on a rock or the bottom a few times; it’s unavoidable. Thus it’s important to inspect the boat propeller for chips and cracks. Even a small chip or a little damage can have a big impact on engine performance. Make sure to perform regular maintenance on the engine or outboard, and also be sure to winterize the engine during the off-season.

 Though it might sound a little intuitive, the weight of the boat also affects how fast it can move on the water. Make sure that excess supplies, equipment, and gear don’t build up inside the boat, as this will weigh it down and cause a decrease in performance. Make sure if a lot of people are in the boat that the cruising speed is adjusted accordingly, and remember not to push the engine too hard. 

Maximizing the performance of your boat is not just getting the right motor for your boat; your prop plays a big role in its performance. Top-end, hole-shot or cruising speeds, your rig needs to be propped right. Here is some terminology so you can talk “prop”.Propellers
A boat propeller or “prop” is the final piece of the engine and its drive train. It is the part of the boat that transfers the engine horsepower to the water. The transfer is termed as thrust. Thrust is created as the propeller pulls water into the front of it, (the boat side) and pushes it out on the back side. This momentum change is caused by a pull push affect of the blades and the pressure differential from low to high and is the basis for the creation of thrust. All propellers have the same basic parts. However, there are many variables within those basic parts. The descriptions and picture listed below will describe those basic parts, and help you to understand some of the distinctive characteristics of those propeller parts that can vary, causing different reactions.

Pitch
Pitch is the theoretical forward travel of any given propeller. This forward travel is measured in inches. The pitch stamped on the propeller tells you how far forward the propeller would move in inches if it was turned or screwed into a solid media such as cork or the ground.

Pitch can be “True” or “Progressive”. True pitch describes a propeller that measures the same pitch from the leading or beginning edge to the trailing or following edge. Progressive pitch describes a propeller that starts low in pitch at the leading edge and increases its pitch as the water travels towards the trailing edge. Both styles of pitch offer benefits depending on the type of boat and engine package or set up a person uses.
Pitch is the final “gear ratio” adjustment on any given boat. Pitch controls the engine revolutions per minute or “RPM”. Adjusting pitch for any given situation can change a boats performance anywhere in the rpm range and give the boater the desired performance they need while keeping the propulsion system working as the manufacturer engineered. Diameter
Diameter is the total outer circumference of the propeller measured across the center of the prop. In other words it is the distance across the circle the blade tips make as you rotate the propeller.

Diameters are limitless. Most propellers have a diameter pre-determined by the manufacturer as correct for the pitch, horsepower and application it was designed for. Diameter changes can affect the “attitude” of the boat or the way the boat carries it self. Generally, the lower the pitch of a propeller, the larger the diameter will be. Propellers running at deeper depths can be smaller in diameter while performance applications that surface the propellers while running can use larger diameters.  Trained custom propeller shops can adjust diameter to aid in the operation of your specific vessel and its set-up.

Rake
Rake angle is measured in degrees. Rake is the amount of degrees the propeller blades angle perpendicular to the propeller hub. Rake can be slightly negative (leaning towards the boat), or positive (leaning away from the boat). The range of degrees could vary from -5 to +30 degrees. An average rake angle for most outboard propellers is 15 degrees. Rake can be progressive meaning it increases as you move out from the propeller hub to the blade tips. Or rake can be flat maintaining its degree of angle continuously from propeller hub to blade tip. Higher rake angles help to improve some boats ability to operate in aerated water situations by causing the water to adhere to the blades better than a prop with lower rake angles. The centrifugal force the propeller creates, throws the water outward and the higher and/or progressively raked propellers can hold and control that water better, increasing the thrust rearward. Higher rake angles can also help to hold a boats bow higher in the air, reducing hull drag and increasing speeds. However, low rake propellers can be a better choice for light weight fast hulls that carry the bow on their own since they direct thrust with less drag and can increase efficiency.

Cupping
When the final trailing edge of a propeller blade has a “curl” away from the boat, it is referred to as being “Cupped.” Cupping on propellers was not always used as a standard propeller design. When cupping was first used, it was done to propellers as an easy way to increase the pitch or rake without bending the entire blade a blade. Once propeller shops began to do this, they realized other benefits that came along too. One of those benefits was improved performance. Because cupping can increase pitch, rpm will generally decrease. Depending on where and how much of a cup is added, determines the rpm and the boat personality changes.

Rotation
Just as the word suggests, rotation determines the direction a propeller revolves around the axis of the propeller shaft. Rotation is determined by looking at the propeller from the rear of the boat. A right hand propeller will turn clockwise therefore moving down to the right hand side. Contrary, a left hand propeller will rotate counterclockwise or down to the left while looking at the propeller from the rear of the vessel. Changing rotations on single, twin, or triple engine applications can affect the boats performance too.

 Number of Blades
A propeller with one blade would be the fastest and most efficient propeller if it weren’t for the fact that the vibration could not be contained. The reason for its great speed would be the lack of blade drag caused by metal in the water. As blades are added to propeller hubs, the drag is increased. However, the ability to grab more water and decrease the time frame between load and unload is shortened. This means the propeller will “feel” smoother as it grabs water or loads the blades. The number of blades does many other things to the performance and control of a vessel. Performance type hulls tend to show the greatest response from adding and subtracting blades. Propellers typically come with 2 to 6 blades.

Maximum Strength
Composites: In the same way as today’s Formula 1 cars are made of composites and carbon fiber materials to achieve maximum strength with minimum weight. ProPulse blades are made of composites which are stronger and 40% lighter than aluminum boat propellers.

ProPulse blades are not affected by corrosion or pitting as aluminium propellers are, and retain their pristine finish even after several years’ use.

Optimum performance
Adjustable pitch: In just a few minutes you can adjust the pitch and set your boat up for optimum performance in every situation (e.g. watersking, heavy or light loads..)

With the right pitch (the pitch which provides the rpm recommended by the engine makers at full throttle) you achieve faster speeds, lower fuel consumption and better overall handling.

Maximum economy
Replaceable blades: After running aground it’s easy to change the damaged blades on the spot and continue your trip without delay, at lower cost than repairing or buying a new propeller.

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.

The Express stainless steel boat propellers will make your boating a lot more fun because your boat is running much smoother.

Marine Conservation Biology : The Science of Maintaining the Sea’s Biodiversity

by Michael E. Soule, Elliott A. Norse, Larry B. Crowder, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, Island Press, 2005
“Humans are terrestrial animals, and our capacity to see and understand the importance and vulnerability of life in the sea has trailed our growing ability to harm it. While conservation biologists are working to address environmental problems humans have created on land, loss of marine biodiversity, including extinctions and habitat degradation, has received much less attention. At the same time, marine sciences such as oceanography and fisheries biology have largely ignored issues of conservation.”  This means when we are boating, wakeboarding or fishing we should stay away from fish hatching areas.

Marine Conservation Biology brings together for the first time in a single volume leading experts from around the world to apply the lessons and thinking of conservation biology to marine issues. Contributors including James M. Acheson, Louis W. Botsford, James T. Carlton, Kristina Gjerde, Selina S. Heppell, Ransom A. Myers, Julia K. Parrish, Stephen R. Palumbi, and Daniel Pauly offer penetrating insights on the nature of marine biodiversity, what threatens it, and what humans can and must do to recover the biological integrity of the world’s estuaries, coastal seas, and the ocean.

Sections examine: distinctive aspects of marine populations and ecosystems; threats to marine biological diversity, singly and in combination; place-based management of marine ecosystems; the often-neglected human dimensions of marine conservation.

Marine Conservation Biology breaks new ground by creating the conceptual framework for the new field of marine conservation biology—the science of protecting, recovering, and sustainably using the living sea. It synthesizes the latest knowledge and ideas from leading thinkers in disciplines ranging from larval biology to sociology, making it a must-read for research and teaching faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and advanced undergraduate students.”

“Candor and boldness have power. A vision based on both compassion for all life and solid science evokes respect and wonder and is far more effective than the mincing, qualified, soulless recommendations of committees and expert panels. True, there are times (like these) when it appears that nothing will stop the industrial and population juggernauts that are destroying life on this planet, not to mention the dignity and diversity of human cultures; such times require patience, humor, and solidarity between conservationists and humanitarians. This volume provides the foundation for such a declaration of interdependence of all life, oceanic and terrestrial, nonhuman and human.”

“Even as humankind spends billions of dollars in the hope of detecting the faintest echoes of life on Mars, the only place in the universe where we know that life exists has rapidly been losing its distinguishing characteristic, its biological diversity, the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems (Heywood 1995; Norse and McManus 1980; Norse et al. 1986; Office of Technology assessment 1987; Wilson 1988).”

When we are useing the waterways weither for boating or camping we all should be aware of how we treat the thing around us so that other people may also enjoy them and rember that our boat propellers can do a lot of damage,

When boating, it’s important to be aware of the impact your propeller can have on sea life.  While in most cases, a boat launch will be cleared of sea life and allow for simple access to the water without causing harm to sea life, if traveling in areas with shallow water or reeds, it’s important to be aware of how your propeller can cause damage.  When moving through the shallows, make sure your propeller is in a low gear, and also try to avoid reeds that can become entangled in the propeller.  In a lot of places, reeds provide shelter for sea life, and removing them or damaging them can be harmful. 

When taking your boat out of the water, it’s also important to check your propeller and your hull for ensnared reeds or even sea creatures like snails, barnacles, and mussels.  Transferring plant or sea life to another location can cause serious environmental damage; especially when it comes to freshwater lakes and rivers.  Whether using Hustler, Legacy, or Rascal propellers, make sure your propeller doesn’t have a negative effect on the environment!

Spring Is Here And Next Is Summer And Lots Of Boating Fun, Make Sure Your Batteries Are Charged And You Have A Foldable Solar Panel To Make Sure You Keep Them Charged And All Your Other Chargable Products.  Test Your Inflatables To Make Sure They Are In Good Condition And You Can Find Your Tow Rope And One Of The Most Important Make Sure Your Propeller Is In Good Condition And That You Have A Back Up.