Inflatable Boats
Boat Propeller Shaft Thrust Washer
If you own a boat that has an outboard motor on it or boat with a sterndrive system, the propeller shaft must have what is called a thrust washer on it that is positioned on the shaft in front of the boat propeller. The thrust washer has two functions. The first reason why you must use one is it stops boat propellers from sliding forward on the prop shaft while being run in forward gear. That would cause damage to the lower unit housing from coming in contact with the rotating boat prop.
The propeller would also be damaged which would not be repairable along with possibly the lower unit housing not being repairable. The second reason is it centers and secures the front of the boat prop when the prop nut on the shaft is tightened to the proper torque spec. There are two thrust washer designs that achieve this. One is just flat on the side that contacts the propeller that makes it impossible for the boat prop to wobble once the prop nut is tight. The other design has a smaller diameter protruding inner shoulder to it that tucks inside the front of the prop that also centers and secures the front of the boat propeller.
You must use the correct thrust washer for your prop shaft to insure the propeller will be inside the lower unit housing at the proper depth so the exhaust gases will only exit out the center of the propeller instead of out over the propeller blades which would cause a huge loss of performance.
When changing out boat propellers make sure the thrust washer is on the prop shaft before installing the replacement propeller and not stuck inside the front of the prop you are taking off.
Pry it out of the old prop if it’s still in it and put it on the shaft. When changing boat props you should take the thrust washer off the shaft and check if there is any fishing line wrapped around the shaft that you sometimes you pick up while using your boat and remove this line. This fishing line can damage the rubber waterproof seal that the prop shaft goes through and that could lead to water entering the lower unit gear housing and contaminating the gear oil in the housing. If you suspect this has happened you can check it yourself by having the boat out of the water and let it sit overnight. Then just unscrew the gear oil drain plug on the gear housing just enough to see what comes out of the lower unit. Water is heavier than oil so it will drip out before any oil does. If pure oil comes out immediately then you are ok. If you have just a little water then oil coming out, secure the drain plug and run your boat a little bit then check for water again. If no water comes out the seal should be good but still check for water periodically. If water comes out, your propeller shaft seal needs to be replaced by a certified marine technician.
Propane Powered Outboard Motors
You now have the option of using a propane powered outboard motors instead of a gasoline or electric motor. LEHR is the first company to mass produce outboards that use propane as the operating fuel. Their line of models are 2.5hp., 5hp., 9.9hp., 15hp. and a 25hp engine. The engines are similar to gas powered engines and the boat propellers they use are non-thru hub style props that are made out of aluminum only. The performance is comparable to gas engines.
The advantages of these motors compared to gasoline powered motors:
- Propane burns up to fifty times cleaner than regular gasoline.
- Engine starts are easier because the propane fuel canisters are pressurized.
- There is no gasoline smell.
- Ethanol that is a problem for gasoline engines is not in propane.
- There is no lubricating oil that needs to be added.
- Refueling is easier. You can just unscrew an empty canister and then screw in a full one.
- This can take less than a minute.
The disadvantages of these propane powered outboard motors compared to gasoline powered motors:
- There is a limited number of models available.
- Propane engines are a little more expensive to purchase.
- They are heavier than gas engines.
- There are less service dealers around that you can take the engine in to for repairs.
- No engine no matter what is used as fuel is perfect but you do have choices on what kind is best for you.
Please check out the boat propellers we offer on our website or you can call us at 1-800-573-5533
Boat Propellers for Different Boat Hull Designs
Most boat hull designs perform well enough with an average aluminum propeller but a lot of hull designs work best with either a three or four blade boat prop with stern lifting or bow lifting capabilities made from aluminum or stainless steel.
For boats with an outboard motor or a sterndrive sometimes using a bow lifting boat prop tends to make the front of the boat bounce up and down, that is known as porpoising. You can put more gear in the bow area or have a passenger or two sit up in the front. That can get rid of the bouncing or you need a three bladed stern lifting propeller which is offered mostly in a stainless steel boat prop. Four bladed aluminum propeller or stainless steel propeller reduce bouncing also because most of these are stern lifting props. Installing trim tabs will can control the porpoising they cost considerably more than propellers do.
For high speed bass boats you have to go with performance designed stainless steel props to achieve the highest speeds and the best takeoffs. If your bass boat bounces from side to side at high speeds that is called chine walking and that can be a scary ride and even dangerous. Usually three bladed boat propellers cause chine walking but using a four bladed propeller will greatly lessen that effect.
Inboard ski boats use three or four bladed props and have a fixed drive system with no trim adjustments that can be made so they are designed to perform the best for all operating conditions just the way they come from the manufacturer.
We have most types of boat propellers at great discounted prices that you can order online on our discount aluminum propeller website or by phone by calling us at 1-800-573-5533.
Boat Propellers for Different Boat Hull Designs
Most boat hull designs perform well enough with an average aluminum propeller but a lot of hull designs work best with either a three or four blade boat prop with stern lifting or bow lifting capabilities made from aluminum or stainless steel.
For boats with an outboard motor or a sterndrive sometimes using a bow lifting boat prop tends to make the front of the boat bounce up and down, that is known as porpoising. You can put more gear in the bow area or have a passenger or two sit up in the front. That can get rid of the bouncing or you need a three bladed stern lifting propeller which is offered mostly in a stainless steel boat prop. Four bladed aluminum or stainless steel propellers reduce bouncing also because most of these are stern lifting props. Installing trim tabs will can control the porpoising they cost considerably more than propellers do.
For high speed bass boats you have to go with performance designed stainless steel props to achieve the highest speeds and the best takeoffs. If your bass boat bounces from side to side at high speeds that is called chine walking and that can be a scary ride and even dangerous. Usually three bladed boat propellers cause chine walking but using a four bladed propeller will greatly lessen that effect.
Inboard ski boats use three or four bladed props and have a fixed drive system with no trim adjustments that can be made so they are designed to perform the best for all operating conditions just the way they come from the manufacturer.
We have most types of boat propellers at great discounted prices that you can order online on DansDiscountProps.com or by phone by calling us at 1-800-573-5533.
Underwater Hits on Boat Props
If you own a boat with an outboard motor or sterndrive and hit something underwater with your lower unit and boat props a wide range of damage can occur. It also depends on what the propeller is made out of as to how much damage you have.
Boat props made of a composite material should not cause any damage the lower unit or prop shaft. They have solid hubs that break away from the shaft and go sink to the bottom or the blades will fray or break away saving you from lower unit damage. Composite propellers are not repairable.
Aluminum boat props even though they are a harder material than the composites, they also should not cause any other damage to your drive system if you hit something. The blades on the aluminum props will give way and the hubs might spin but the propeller will stay on the prop shaft. Aluminum propellers are repairable, they can be welded on and reshaped to original size and the hubs can be replaced.
With Stainless steel propellers you need to be more careful. You might possibly damage your lower unit and propeller shaft if you hit something because stainless steel boat propellers are about five to seven times stronger than aluminum boat props so there is very little give to them. The most common damage you might have is a bent propeller shaft. That could be expensive to fix. The hubs in these props should spin on impact and save you from a major repair but not every the time. They can be welded on and repaired and the hub can be replaced.
The good news is there is an easy way to avoid any damage at all. Just don’t hit anything. If you need to replace your boat prop please check out the low priced boat propellers on our website or call us at 1-800-573-5533
Setting up at the Boat Shows
People who attend boat shows to shop for boats and other boating stuff like boat propellers are unaware of how much preparation and hard work a boat dealer and their employees go through to get the boats to the show and get them all set up for display.
First the dealer has to contact the boat show people, sign up and make payment to be there and do this as soon as possible long before the show opens. The sooner this is done the better so the dealer can get the biggest display areas in the heaviest people traffic areas before other dealers do. Prime display floor space and locations at the show are the most sought after and are reserved the fastest. Once the sign up, payment and display area reservation has been completed the real work begins.
A floor plan is developed that shows exactly where the boats are going to be positioned. All the other things that are going to be in the display like desks and chairs for the sales staff and steps used for people to get in and out of the boats plus signs and decorative plants and other things must be shown in the floor plan. The floor plan is extremely important so when the actual setting up starts the setup people know where everything goes and the process can be done quickly.
Once the boats and all the other things are in their assigned place everything needs to be cleaned. This is done by the dealer workers and sometimes outside help is used also. The cleaning takes up a lot of time and is hard work but the display must look as good as possible to help make a good impression on the customers.
Now the display is ready for the show. The sales people are there and the show begins and runs for quite a few days. After a hopefully successful show that produced many sales the boats and everything else have to be taken back to the boat dealer and put away. This also takes up time and is hard work.
This entire show process is also always a get it done ASAP deal. Most dealers go to more than one show during the winter months because more than half of the yearly sales of the boats, boat propellers and the other items can be sold at these events.
Please check out our website for boat props and other items and if you any questions please call us at 1-800-573-5533
The Boat Shows are Coming
The winter time boat shows are the best way to see all the boat brands and all their different models along with lots of boating equipment like boat propellers and other boating merchandise on display for sale at great show prices also.They have special boat show prices that are lower than if you walk into a dealer in the middle of summer looking to buy a boat and they might have a few of last years new boats left over that you could get at a really discounted price because they would love to get rid of those boats to make way for the new year boats. I told a buddy of mine about shopping around for left over boats from dealers and last fall he found a new left over 2016 pontoon boat and motor that he bought for just under $17,000. That boat would have cost him cost around $25,000 if he got in the just a few months earlier before the 2017’s came out. Not Bad.
Try to decide on what kind of boat you are interested in and start checking out the boat dealers in your area that have the type you are looking for. Find out what shows are going to be around near you and if that dealer is going to be there. You should start asking questions now to their sales people about pricing, options, when you can take delivery of a boat if you buy it at the show and what kind of boat propellers would perform best on your boat. This way you will have a head start on dealing with the boat dealers at the show because they are going to be busy talking to lot of other people there and you’ll have a head start at getting your boat sooner if you do buy one because the sooner you buy at the show the sooner you get your boat in the spring. It’s first come first served most of the time at these shows.
You will need a spare prop for your new boat so check out our boat propeller website or call us for any questions you have about boat props. 1-800-573-5533
Boat Propeller Brands
Most people who are looking to buy a new prop are not familiar with all the boat propeller brands available to choose from. There are actually two brand categories of boat propellers. One is the original equipment manufacturer brand of propellers called OEM propellers. These are boat props that are made by the engine manufacturer like Mercury Marine, the makers of outboard motors and sterndrives. They produce their own line of boat propellers to go on their own drive systems and also other brands of engines using the correct hub kit. Volvo Penta, Evinrude, Yamaha, Suzuki and the other engine makers produce boat propellers for their engines also and sometimes contract with an aftermarket propeller manufacturers to make props for them.
The second category is called the aftermarket manufacturers of props. These independent companies are not owned or operated by the marine engine makers. They produce their own line of boat propellers that will fit and work well on the marine engine manufacturers engines and sometimes like I have already mentioned make props for the OEM companies. These excellent quality propellers in most cases perform just as well as the original equipment manufacturers props and are can be less expensive.
Here are the biggest aftermarket propeller
For a wide range of boat propeller brands available to buy, information and help with selecting the right propeller for your boat, please visit our boat propeller website or call us at 1-800-573-5533
The Best Value in Boat Propellers – Aluminum Propellers
If you have a boat that has an outboard motor or sterndrive you can use boat propellers made out of a composite or aluminum propellers or stainless steel. We prefer the use of aluminum propellers or stainless steel propellers because it is our opinion that the composite props do not perform quite so good but they do work OK so if you want to see for yourself buy one and see what you think.
Aluminum props we think give you the best value between the three kinds because they are very affordable. For one thing they are about one half to one third the cost of a stainless steel propeller. The cost to get an aluminum prop repaired is also about the same difference in price as opposed to a stainless steel prop. They generally perform well enough, maybe not as well as a stainless but you do not have much of a chance of causing damage to your lower unit or propeller shaft if you hit something like a rock or tree stump.
Aluminum prop blades will bend or break away on a hard impact saving you from further damage. With stainless steel boat propellers you need be careful about where you drive your boat. They are about five to seven times harder than aluminum propellers so they do not give such at all, if you hit some underwater object. It’s possible you could end up with a bent propeller shaft which is an expensive repair.
So aluminum boat propellers are probably the best value because of the cost to buy and to repair and they are safer to use.And we have super, discount prices on aluminum boat propellers, and also stainless steel props.>Online or phone ordering. 1-800-573-5533
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