Propellers - resources for cruising sailors

Reducing Drag for Light-Air Performance

[Article]

Overview

Worried about your prop, shaft and strut slowing you down? Take a tour through the half-dozen things that slow you most and how you can reduce your drag, including folding and feathering props.

[Practical Sailor]
- Propeller drag

Fixed or Variable Pitch Propeller?

[Site]

By Michel & Jane DeRidder

A 40-year-liveaboard couple describe their variable pitch propeller that can vary engine load at different rpm, like an automobile transmission, allowing the engine to be efficient at any speed. Describes use with and without a pyrometer.

[SetSail.com, Charlotte, NC, USA]
- Variable pitch propeller advantages

The Perfect Pitch

[Article]

Brief How-To By Antonio Bido

A good introduction to the variables of propeller design, with the results of the author′s experiments with various pitch settings (on a variable pitch prop), testing for engine effort, noise and vibrations as well as speed. Translated from the Italian.

[Nautica]
- Propeller design

Marine Propeller Problems?

[Vendor]

Service provider

A propeller inspection service provides a brief description of the nine distinct problems boaters experience with their propellers, form noise and vibration to lack of power to engine over- or under-loading.

[Propeller Dynamics Pty, Ltd., Burleigh, MDC QLD, Australia]
- Read the article on line

How to Get a Charge Out of Sailing

[Site]

By Michel & Jane DeRidder How to Get a Charge Out of Sailing

A 40-year-liveaboard couple describe their home-designed prop-shaft alternator. It provides unusual charging abilities when combined with the engine alternator.

[SetSail.com, Charlotte, NC, USA]
- A prop-shaft alternator

Some Notes on Controllable Pitch Propellers

[Site]

By Michael Kasten Some Notes on Controllable Pitch Propellers

Advantages, efficiency, maneuverability, damage-resistance, costs, and technique of controllable pitch props, and why they are particularly appropriate for motor sailors.

[Kasten Marine Design, Inc., Port Townsend, WA, USA]
- Controllable pitch

The Controllable Pitch Propeller

[Offline]

Overview By McGowan and Breiwick

Not just easy to feather, but more efficient under load, controllable pitch propellers require some instrumentation and maintenance. Vendor list, photos and diagrams. 7 pages

[PassageMaker, April 1998]
- Order the PassageMaker back issue

Propeller

[Site]

Personal resource list By Bill Dietrich

Brief grab bag of facts and commentary on the types of propellers and their maintenance. Contains excerpts from hard-to-find bulletin board and newsgroup postings, as well as links to useful sites and vendor pages.

[Bill Dietrich, USA]
- Thoughts on propellers

Sailing Screws

[Offline]

Detailed How-To By Dave Gerr

How to be sure your horsepower and shaft speed are matched with prop diameter and blade area to get the most power. 4 pages with diagrams and graphs.

[Sail Magazine, February 2001]
- Order the Sail Magazine back issue

Choosing the Right Propeller

[Article]

Brief How-To By Sue & Larry
Choosing the Right Propeller

How to test if your prop matches your engine′s recommended rpm′s. The pro′s and con′s of fixed, folding, and feathering props. How to look after your prop′s safety.

[SailNet, 5 February 2003]
- Choosing a prop

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