Propulse S8 OMC Propeller

The performance of many boats would be greatly improved by finding an ideal propeller in terms of diameter, pitch, number and surface area of blades. The propeller, as a propulsive element of a boat, is of great importance.

There are a multitude of different propellers: variable pitch, interchangeable blades, folding propellers... Let us know more about them to guide us in their choice:

MANUFACTURING MATERIAL
In general, bronze is still used, although more and more models made of plastic are appearing on the market. The great advantage of bronze is its comparatively low cost and ease of repair (although we must be very careful if there have been problems of electrolysis).
Light alloy has also entered the market with force, where it has proven to work perfectly with outboard motors. But by far the most popular material currently used in propellers is aluminum. It is easily repaired and has a high resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is five times more resistant. In fact, it is the hardest and most durable material, which means it is more resistant to the scratches and dents that often happen to aluminum propellers, and stainless steel blades can be less thick and increase efficiency. So, if what you are looking for is greater acceleration, maximum top speed and greater overall efficiency, you should consider stainless steel propellers.

BLADES
When selecting a propeller a fundamental point is the size and number of blades it has.
In any case it is always advisable that it gives us the possibility to easily and quickly change a blade for a new one. We must be aware that a blade can deteriorate quite easily, so we should be able to replace it on the spot whenever necessary and without delaying the navigation. Para for this reason, interchangeable blades have been invented, which can certainly save us time, but also money (it will not be necessary to change the entire propeller).

PITCH
This term indicates how far a propeller would theoretically advance when turning in a solid medium, but as it does so in a liquid medium, the ship will not reach this theoretical pitch and the loss of advance is called backward. Depending on the pitch there are several types of propellers:

• Variable pitch propellers: this type of propellers are characterized because the active faces of their blades are not helical surfaces; thus the pitch is different at each point of these surfaces. These propellers allow the pitch of the boat to be adjusted, so as to ensure that the propeller works at optimum performance for specific circumstances and a particular boat. Adjusting the pitch will also save fuel consumption.
• Multi-pitch propellers: these are propellers that do not form a single piece with the hub and allow, by means of a mechanism, the possibility of changing the pitch at will.
• Fixed pitch propellers: a fixed pitch propeller is more efficient than a variable pitch propeller for a given rotation speed and load. At a given rotational speed and load, it can transmit power more efficiently than a variable pitch propeller. At another speed or load, the fixed pitch will not be the most efficient as the angle will not be optimal.