All Marine Propellers The Same?

Posted by adairsawyer on March 1st, 2014

Yacht, cruisers and ferries have been used by men for a long time because of which a lot of companies that manufacture marine propellers with different characteristics and designs have come up over a period of time. Does the marine propeller design have a considerable effect on its performance? Considering that no two propellers are the same, every design specification comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. No matter how powerful the engine of the yacht or ferry might be, the propeller must be effective enough to transfer the power to the water optimally.

In case of an expensive vessel, the two-blade propeller is totally unsuitable because the keels will have disturbed water oozing out thus reducing its effect. Three blade fixed marine propellers are better options because even when one blade is working on disturbed water, the other two blades would be working on the speed of the vessel. A product with perfect marine propeller design would provide the vessel with enough thrust and the three blade propeller with feathering is a perfect example. Many propellers available in the market enable you to change the pitch as per your requirement and this in turn is proportional to the speed of the vessel.

Apart from marine propeller design, material used for construction also has a considerable impact on performance. Marine propellers made of stainless steel would reduce the galvanic action as compared to those that are made of bronze. Many yacht owners opt for two different propellers for forward and reverse. This provides the owner with the advantage of being able to accelerate the yacht at equal speeds in both directions. Another aspect that is impacted by material used is the durability of the propeller. Thus, factors like material, design and the type of the propeller play a seminal role in determining its operation, efficiency and unique attributes.

Marine propellers can also be distinguished by the ability of the user to change certain characteristics and customize in accordance with his requirements. Having gained cognizance of the types of propellers in terms of their pros and cons, users should be able to tweak the contraption so that it operates in a manner that is suitable for them. For example, pitch is the main consideration when it comes to speed. Based on this, the marine propeller design in certain brands enables the user to control the pitch through mechanical, hydraulic, electrical or pneumatic adjustment. This also helps to save on fuel.

Thus, it is apparent that marine propeller design and the specifications have considerable impact on the performance of this machine and can also serve as features of distinction between different brands. Therefore, before buying marine propellers, make sure to read about each product in terms of specifications and features. Comparison shopping is the way to go followed by conducting an analysis of each brand. Surfing the Internet to read on customers’ experiences, complaints and the reviews in forums or other sites is also a good idea and would help you choose the right propeller for your vessel.

With the degree of variation available in case of marine propellers it is imperative to be aware of parameters that would help to distinguish between various types. One of the yardsticks is that of marine propeller design since it is an important determinant of performance and speed.