Drive Protection Question:Will
my drive be at greater risk to damage with a stainless steel propeller?
Answer: No,
aluminum propellers use the same drive protective hub as the stainless steel
propeller. If you hit something hard you will probably do some damage to your drive
with either propeller. Many prop shops like to tell people they are at greater risk with a stainless steel propeller,
that is not the case. With an aluminum propeller if you hit wood, sand, gravel and even sometimes dirt you can plan on having
your propeller repaired this keeps propeller repair shops in business. Using a stainless steel propeller you can usually
cut through all that with little or no damage to your propeller. “Nothing a file couldn't’t take care of.”
Fuel Economy Question:
Will going to a four blade
propeller help with my fuel economy?
Answer: Generally
depending on the size and weight of your boat. You can generally expect to see
an increase of roughly 10% better fuel economy in the midrange when switching
to a Signature Four or Five Blade Propeller.
Horsepower Question: My
mechanic told me I don’t have enough horsepower for a stainless steel three or
four blade propeller, is their any truth to that?
Answer: This
is absolutely not true. Majority of a stainless steel propellers weight is
located near the center of the hub and has little effect on leverage when rotating. Pitch is
pitch, if using a 19 pitch aluminum three blade then convert to a 19 pitch stainless steel four blade you are still only moving
approximately 19” forward every revolution, horsepower makes little difference.
Pitch Size Question:
When converting from a three blade to
a four or five blade should I drop my pitch size?
Answer: Not
unless your boat is operating outside it’s proper RPM range. Four blades
originally got a bad name this way, dealers would recommend a lower pitch when going to a four
blade propeller, the result was spectacular hole shot, over revving of RPM and significant loss to top end
performance.
Four Blade Today, converting your three blade propellers with a four
blade propeller *pitch for pitch keeps the RMS’s the same, top end the same, or close to the same all with a great hole shot.
When converting to a five blade, it has been our experience
that dropping one or two degrees in pitch is recommended do to the exceptionally high efficiently of the extra blade.
*Pitch for pitch means keeping the pitch the same as what you
are already using now. For example: If you are using a 19 Pitch three blade aluminum propeller you should stay with a 19
Pitch when switching to a four or five blade propeller.
