Marine Propeller

Author: boater, 06 14th, 2010

The ideal efficiency of any size Marine propeller is that of an actuator disc in an ideal fluid. An actual marine propeller is made up of sections of helicoidal surfaces which act together ‘screwing’ through the water (hence the common reference to marine propellers as “screws”). Three, four, or five blades are most common in marine propellers, although designs which are intended to operate at reduced noise will have more blades. The blades are attached to a boss (hub), which should be as small as the needs of strength allow – with fixed pitch propellers the blades and boss are usually a single casting.

A propeller that turns clockwise to produce forward thrust, when viewed from aft, is called right-handed. One that turns anticlockwise is said to be left-handed. Larger vessels often have twin screws to reduce heeling torque, counter rotating  propellers, the starboard screw is usually right-handed and the port left-handed, this is called outward turning. The opposite case is called inward turning. Another possibility is contra-rotating propellers, where two propellers rotate in opposing directions on a single shaft, or on separate shafts on nearly the same axis



One Response to “Marine Propeller”

  1. The Choice Of The Right Engine | reservationsfor2.com Says:

    [...] Marine Propeller | Marine Accessories [...]

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