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 equiptment 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

About The Author


Sebastian Romero works in the security industry and is a single father. Find more info at http://www.every-article.info. Check out http://www.boat-propeller.info and http://www.boat-propellers.info.