How an Aluminum Boat is Made
Aluminum boat manufacturing started back about 60 years ago with the Idea of creating a new style of boat that was much easier to produce and was much lighter than wooden boats. There is a lot less maintenance that has to be done on an aluminum boat and the reduced weight improves performance compared to wooden boats of the same size. Outboard motors are generally used for power and higher pitched boat propellers can be used because of the lightness of the boat to increase speed.
Production starts with a computer guided router cutting out the parts of the boat from a flat sheet of aluminum. A computerized plasma torch is used the cut out the larger pieces. Construction starts first with the hull bottom. The bow panels are reinforced with an extra sheet of aluminum and the rest of the bottom has stiffeners, also called ribs attached cross the bottom for support. The transom is the put on using silicone between it and the hull to insure that is will be waterproof and the sides are attached the same way. Then the top part of the boat is installed onto the sides. All the major parts of the boat are first put together using screws. Once the hull, sides and top have been all put together the screws are taken out and replaced with rivets for more strength. The aluminum boat is the put into a tank of water to see if it is waterproof. If any leaks are found they are made waterproof. Foam is then put into the bottom and sides of the boat so it will float and not sink if gets filled with water for any reason. If the boat is going to be painted the aluminum surfaces are sanded so the paint will adhere to the aluminum, the paint goes on and boat is ready for final installment of the floor, interior and everything also used to complete the boat. The outboard motor is secured on to the transom and the boat prop is put on the boat prop shaft. The boat is the ready for use.
How Fiberglass Boats are Made
Fiberglass boats are low maintenance and durable. They do not deteriorate and rot like a wooden boat will if is not maintained on a regular basis. It takes over a year for a working mold to be designed and made and is generally good to produce boats for five or more years.
Improvements are always coming to the manufacturing process and improvements in marine engines and boat propellers have been keeping pace. The first thing done in the manufacturing process is all the wooden pieces used for a mold are cut to shape using a computer aided machine. They then construct a mold frame from the wood parts. The shape of the boat is then built up using fiberglass on this frame. When building a mold it must be free of any imperfections of any kind so the boats made from this mold are perfect with no flaws.
When the mold is finished they can start the casting process for making a boat. A special kind of spray gun is used to shoot the color and then the mixture of plastic resin and fiberglass strands on to the mold. Workers using a metal roller with a handle work the fiberglass into every nook and cranny making sure there is total contact with the mold so there will be no defects in the finished boat. The combination of resin and fiberglass create a chemical reaction that heats up and hardens at the same time. A material called Roven is then laid out over the fiberglass to made it more rigid and sturdy. Wood is also put into specified areas where other parts of the boat will be attached to. The Roven and wood are then coated in fiberglass so they become part of the boat. After about an hour or longer the boat casting is extracted from the mold. The boat is then worked on by cutting holes in the casting in the areas specified by the design for mechanicals and other uses.
In assembling a fiberglass boat there are 3 major parts to it, all are made of fiberglass and in a similar way. The hull which is the side and bottom of the boat, then what is called the liner which is the flooring and walls is put into the hull along with the engine if it is a sterndrive boat and other big parts. Then finally the shell or top of the boat is attached to the hull.
Once all three parts are together the final assembly is done, installation all the parts needed to complete the boat is performed. The final step is to ensure every thing on the boat works properly and that the boat is water tight in the areas that it needs to be. Final inspections are done and if everything is good the boats are ready to have the boat props put on and then used.
However should you need replacement boat props, please do not hesitate to contact Dan’s Discount Boat Props for great service and prices.
Get on Board with Pontoon Boating
Pontoon Boating is a great way to spend time with family and friends, whether you enjoy fishing, water sports or just want to spend time out on the water. One way you can ensure you can have fun on the water whenever you want is to purchase a pontoon boat. These boats can offer you plenty of advantages over some of the other types of boats on the market today.
Pontoon Boating Offers Plenty of Room for Everyone
Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of buying a family-style pontoon boat is the amount of space they offer. The large decks allow you to take large groups of people out on the water at the same time. Your passengers aren’t limited to sitting in a seat the whole time either. There is plenty of room to roam around and enjoy some good company and even some food. Some people even grill out on their boat.
Pontoon Boating Offers Versatility
Pontoon boats offer you versatility in addition to plenty of space. You can use these boats for just about anything out on the water, from general touring to fishing to water sports. The newer boats with three pontoons instead of two can actually maneuver much like a typical speed boat. However, even if you purchase a traditional two-pontoon boat, you can use it for touring, fishing and just about any other activity on the water.
Better Price
Even though pontoon boats may seem more expensive than other types of boats, it is actually a cheaper option when you consider the amount of space you will enjoy. These boats cost less per square foot than any other boat, allowing you to have a lot of fun on water with your family without spending a lot of money.
Pontoon Boating Offers Comfort and Luxury
Pontoon boats are designed with the highest level of comfort and luxury possible. Many of them come with soft leather seats, built-in coolers, cup holders and many more features, including build-in grills, swim platforms and ladders, carpeted flooring and more. You will be able to find the perfect model that will fit your family’s needs best.
The decision to buy a pontoon boat can be a difficult one, but once you own one, you will be glad you made the purchase. These boats are among the most versatile and will give your family all the room they need to spend quality time together on the water. Add in the reasonable price and the comfort these boats provide, you will find it is money well-spent!
Pontoon Boating will always come with the need or want of a new boat prop from time to time, and please don’t forget boat propellers and boating accessories is what we do at Dans Discount Boat Propellers.
Boating
One fantastic way to spend a little time with the family on those hot summer days is with family style power boating. You don’t need a yacht to have fun on the open seas. So long as you’ve got the right type of equipment and can handle yourself behind the control panel, you and the family will have a great deal of fun all summer long.
Before you understand just how much fun family style power boating can be, you must first understand what a powerboat actually is and what makes them notable. Simply put, a powerboat (also referred to as a motorboat) is just a boat that uses an engine to power itself. Boat propellers are attached to the engine that allow it to move freely through the water. Depending on the specific type of engine that you have and the type of boat products that you use, you can quickly gain a lot of speed in just a short amount of time.
The engine itself is notable for its construction if it is an outboard motor. Unlike other types of boats, the powerboat has a boat propeller, gearbox and engine all condensed into one unit that is also highly portable. The design makes transporting your boat to and from your favorite vacation spot an absolute breeze.
One really fantastic way to spend an afternoon on a powerboat is by pulling tubers, yes, boating is definitely fun. Tubing can be done purely for your own leisure or you can even make a game out of it. If you hook two tubers up to the back of the boat, for example, you can drive wildly around a body of water (while still paying attention to important safety rules and regulations, mind you) and see who you can get to fall off the tube first. On the other side of the equation, there really is nothing quite like getting leisurely pulled behind a boat in a tube, sipping on a bottle of your favorite beverage while the sun goes down in the distance.
Truth be told, powerboats are really fantastic for a wide variety of other types of water-related activities, as well. Because of the levels of speed that they can achieve, they’re also really great for pulling skiers, as well. Boogie borders and even surfers can also have a great deal of fun.
If you’re a fishing aficionado, you can also have a very specific type of motor installed that allows you to move quietly through the water without disturbing too many of the fish below you.
And of course if you ever need a boat propeller for your favorite boating activity, we at Dan’s Discount Boat Propellers offer the best pricing on all major brands.
Outboard and Stern Drive Boat Propellers : most frequently asked question
The most frequently asked question we are asked about outboard and stern drive boat propellers is: What boat propeller should I be using on my boat?
There are two reasons why people call us about getting a propeller for their boat. Customers either need a replacement boat prop for the one they have because they have damaged or lost their boat propeller, or they are not happy with the performance of the boat propeller they are using now and want to see if there is a better boat prop they can buy. Basically people ask us the same general question about boat propellers, and this is the one we get all the time and the answer we give.
Finding what boat propeller you should be using on your boat is relatively simple to determine. But a little hard to explain. There is a kind of formula you follow and here it is.
First you find out what your engines wide open throttle ( W.O.T.) operating RPM range is, which is the range your engine is making the most horsepower and is the safe range to run your boat at full speed. Look in your engine owners manual for this or if you don’t have a manual you can look it up on-line.This is the RPM range you should be obtaining with just you in the boat driving at full speed and trimmed up if you have trim. The operating RPM range you should be in is generally a range of 400 up to 1000 RPM’s. depending on what engine you have.With just you in the boat and the right pitch boat prop, you should be in top half of this RPM range. This is where your engine is creating the most horsepower which is always rated at full speed. If you are not there then you need to change what pitch prop you are using. Boat propellers work like gears in a car. Too low of a gear or pitch you get too many RPM’s at full speed. Too high of a gear or pitch you don’t get enough RPM’s at full speed. Either way you are not getting the best performance you should be getting like if you had the right gear or pitch.size. Concerning propeller pitch size please see our article on that subject.
Dan's Discount Boat Props – Stainless Steel Boat Propellers
We sell almost as many Stainless Steel Boat Propellers as we do aluminum propellers. Our super discounted prices make these propellers very affordable and you get a little better performance from stainless steel propellers.
The brands we sell are Solas propellers, Mercury Quicksilver, PowerTech, TurningPoint and Michigan Wheel. All are top quality and performance polished boat propellers.
As with the aluminum boat propellers, the Solas Amita one piece stainless steel props have become our best sellers.The quality and performance are excellent and they are a one piece boat propeller with the rubber cushion hub installed at the factory that most boaters seem to like.
High Precision Design All SOLAS stainless steel boat propellers are developed through a state of the art process. Using theoretical calculations, geometry design, modern CAD technologies, prototype testing, pilot production and extensive field testing, SOLAS props are designed to be superior to other boat props. Long term studies have shown that SOLAS propellers’ resistance against corrosion outperforms all other stainless steel propellers in their class.
The Solas Amita models of Stainless Steel boat propellers are Saturn and New Saturn, both are used for all around power and speed performance for the larger and heavier boats. Titan and HR Titan 3, a three blade prop and HR Titan 4, a four blade prop, give the best power and speed for the light to medium weight boats. And the Lexor stainless steel boat prop has larger diameters and is a high performance boat propeller for the high horsepower high speed style boats.
Dan’s Discount Boat Propellers – Aluminum Boat Props
Our best selling aluminum boat props brand is Solas Amita propellers. We offer hundreds of boat propellers at the lowest prices. The reason they are the most popular is because they perform great and they are a one piece boat prop that has a rubber hub already installed at the factory and is ready to be used. Just use the propeller attaching hardware that you already have.There is no hub kit you have to take out of your old prop and put in a new prop yourself. You do not have to buy a boat prop and also a hub kit at additional cost and then install the hub kit in the propeller yourself. People love these Solas Amita one piece props because they do not have to deal with the hub kits. Most boaters just want to put the boat propeller on and go.
Our Solas Amita aluminum boat propellers come in three models. Amita 3, for best speed and all around performance three blade prop, Amita 3 Plus, these 3 blade boat props have larger diameters then the most popular Amita 3’s and work best on slower and heavier boats that need the larger blades to push the boat better. And Amita 4, four blade boat props used for more power when pulling towables and skiers, not quite as fast as the Amita 3’s.
The quality and performance of Solas Amita propellers is excellent and we have had no complaints about how they work. As always getting the right size is most important and we can help you with that, unlike most of our competitors who have little knowledge about boat propellers and are pretty much just order takers.
The Best Boat Propellers for Pontoon Boats
Boat propellers for pontoon boats can be hard to match up right sometimes. The main problem is cavitation, meaning the boat propeller is hitting air when you trim it up and the RPM’s shoot way up and the boat slows down.. The reason for this is the transom on a lot of the newer pontoon boats is too high so the engines lower unit is not in the water far enough. The pontoon diameters have kept getting larger in the last twenty years which makes the boat ride higher but some of the boat manufacturers have not lowered the transoms so the engines can be mounted down in the water far enough so you can use the trim for best performance.
What you can do to correct this problem is use a larger diameter three blade or a four blade boat prop that will have more contact with the water. This works in a lot of cases. Solas propellers has a line of boat propellers called Amita Plus propellers that are three bladed boat props, made of aluminum that come in large diameters that work well on pontoon boats. Solas propellers also makes a good selection of four bladed aluminm and stainless steel boat propellers that also work well.
So what are the Best Boat Propellers for Pontoon Boats?
We recommend and sell Solas props which are high performance and provide a smoother ride.
If you still have cavitation problems no matter what boat prop you use, you might have to cut your transom plate down a few inches so the motor sits down farther in the water.
You might also consider another motor that has a longer drive shaft lower unit.
Will Boat Propellers become Obsolete?
A new boat propulsion system has been invented that uses both propellers and water jet systems combined that produces more speed, better maneuvering and it burns less fuel. The system can be used on any type and any size of vessel. And from an accidental discovery due to a malfunctioning propeller shaft that made the propellers oscillate, they are working on a new version with the oscillating motion of the boat propellers that nearly doubles the efficiency producing even faster speeds and greater fuel economy.
It is called the Contrapel Hybrid Drive. The system has two enclosed counter rotating propellers in it that operate partially above the water line. Thier purpose is to greatly accelerate water coming in from a pick up intake and then pushing it through an outlet at the back of the vessel. Similar to a coventional jet system but it produces a much higher degree of water velocity.
The two inventors, Barry Davies and Paul Patterson, are from New Zealand have patented the system and are now offering it to a wide variety of marine industry companies and even to countries such as the U.S armed forces for possible use in an unlimited applications. This system has also been found to produce electricity and is being researched and developed in this area.
It will be interesting to see how much of an impact the Contrapel Hybrid Drive will have in the future on the boat and ship industries. As of now it looks like it could be a major breakthrough that has tremendous possibilities. So until your boat will use this new system, I suggest taking a look at our boat propellers 🙂
How Boat Propellers Are Repaired
If you have damaged your aluminum propeller by hitting some kind of submerged object you should not run your boat much at with that propeller because a damaged boat prop is not balanced and true any more and can cause undo wear on the drive systems seals and bearings. You can get it repaired if it not in too bad of shape at a cost of a little less than a new prop in most cases. Propeller repair shops can be found in your local yellow pages or on-line if they have a walk in business or you can send your propeller in to them from boat dealers, boating supply shops and boat repair shops.
The first thing a propeller repair shop does to your prop when they get it is to sand blast off all the old paint and crusty buildup so they can start to work on it. Once they have sand blasted the boat prop down to bare aluminum they read the part number and or the size stamped on the propeller so they know what the pitch size should be. Then they put it in a pitchometer to determine how far off the damaged blades are from a new prop is pitch wise.
The boat propeller is then taken over to a bench where the blades are set on top of a pitch block which is a block of metal the has the exact blade configuration the propeller should have stamped in the block. The repair person then uses various types of hammers to actually bang the propeller up against the pitch block to until it is back to it’s original blade shape. This is done to all the blades one at a time.
The boat propeller is then put back into the pitchometer and measured for accuracy. If it is off a little the pitch block is used again and then re-measured until it is right.
When the propeller is back to it’s original shape, the edges might be missing aluminum and in need of new metal to be welded on to the blades. New aluminum is then welded on to the blades and then grinded down to the correct shape.
The boat prop is then tested for balance. Metal is ground off the back side of the heavier blade or blades until all blades are all uniform. The blade edges are then grinded to make a clean edge with no burring on them. The repair is now done and the boat propeller is then painted and ready for use again.
When all else fails we at Dan’s Discount Boat Propellers have all the best boat prop brands, give us a call – I know we can help you get a new boat propeller that might outperform a repaired prop.
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