Michigan Wheel Propellers
Boaters know the importance of boat propellers. No one wants a sub-par product, and no one wants to be stranded without the necessary gear when something inevitably goes wrong. If you are looking for a new propeller or you simply want to find a product to keep as a spare, it is important to find a product made by the right company. As such, it is always wise to go with a well-known name like Michigan Wheel for your boat propeller needs.
It is always important to look for boating products from a company that you can trust. Michigan Wheel is not new to the game of manufacturing top of the line boating goods, and it continues to innovate in the market. Unlike some companies, Michigan Wheel is not content to merely manufacture one great set of boat propellers and call it a day – instead, the company continues to find ways to stay relevant in an always changing market. Today’s boat propellers are far superior to those available in years past, and one can always count on the company to find ways to surpass even the best boat propellers on today’s market.
Michigan Wheel has long been one of the standard names in inboard boat propellers, creating several models of propellers for both commercial and consumer boats for over one hundred years. The boat propellers themselves are divided into several different classes, each perfect for use in different waterborne craft. Whether you need an inboard propeller for your sailboat or for a towboat, Michigan Wheel has the model to suit your needs. Each of these devices are made to the company’s exacting standards, made of quality materials and with the ability to withstand the rigors of repeated use. Michigan Wheel stands by each of these products, and the company’s global recognition speaks for their quality.
In addition to the inboard models, Michigan Wheel also has a number of outboard boat propellers. Like their inboard cousins, these models are made to the company’s exacting standards. These products are accurate and consistent, perfect for use as both spare boat propellers and as replacements for existing models. Michigan Wheel’s products can be used in many different circumstances, and there are boat propellers available for the budget of almost any boater. Whether you need a simple back-up or your are looking for something at the top of the line, there is a product available to suit your needs.
Whether you are looking for an inboard or outboard model, Michigan Wheel has the boat propellers that you need. They are constantly innovating in the market, and their long-time work in the industry can assure you that any product that you choose to purchase will be of high quality. If you need a replacement or merely wish to upgrade to something that is a bit better than what you have had in the past, you may want to take a look at one of the company’s many products. At the end of the day, choosing one of Michigan Wheels fine propellers is a great way to know that you will get to where you are going.
Outboard Propellers 101
Once you have the outboard motor for your boat it is important that you choose the right outboard propeller as well. The propeller should be suitable for the type of boating that you plan to do, different props are available for shallow draft boating, for water skiing, trolling and for other types of boating. You also need to make certain that the prop will allow the engine to reach the manufacturers recommended RPM’s when at full throttle or you risk damaging your propeller and engine. Choosing the right propellers is critical for the performance of your boat and for your boating enjoyment.
Boat propellers are often described by their diameter and pitch. The larger your engine is in horsepower, the larger diameter prop you will generally want. The pitch describes how far the propeller advances with each revolution. A lower pitch gives better pulling power, however if you use a propeller with a pitch that is too low you won’t be using all the power of your engine. A higher pitch allows the boat to go faster, but this is only true if you have enough horsepower to keep the RPM’s at the optimum range. A pitch that is too large makes the propeller heavy and it demands more power than the engine can provide.
After determining the proper diameter and pitch you need to consider how many blades to have on your prop. Outboard propellers typically come with either 3 or 4 blades. Unless you are running a high horsepower motor or using the boat for bass fishing, you will most likely want to choose a 3 blade propeller. 4 blade propellers are designed more for high speed usage with less steering torque and vibration at high speeds. Water skiers can also benefit from using a 4 blade propeller.
The next thing to consider is the construction material of the propeller. Outboard propellers can be made from aluminum, stainless steel, or composites. Aluminum is the most common choice for the manufacturer’s stock factory equipment. They are inexpensive and easy to repair and they work well in a wide range of applications. Stainless steel propellers are more expensive, but they are also more durable and less likely to suffer damage. Composite propellers are typically only utilized on very small horsepower applications, and are not nearly as popular as aluminum and stainless propellers.
Your main goal when choosing a propeller is to ensure that it allows the engine to perform optimally at wide open throttle. Boat dealers and Prop Shops can provide you with formulas to determine the proper pitch, diameter and number of blades based on your engines power or horsepower.
Understanding Cavitation
Cavitation is an issue that many users of outboard propellers do not fully understand. They may be familiar with the effects of cavitation, of course, without being cognizant of the nature of this phenomenon or the variety of factors that can contribute to it.
What is Cavitation?
Cavitation happens when water vaporizes due to an area of reduced pressure along the back side of the blade of a propeller. All outboard boat props are subject to cavitation to one degree or another. Small amounts of cavitation, in fact, are perfectly normal during the operation of outboard boat props.
A large amount of cavitation, however, is not normal. When a propeller cavitates too much, it can cause actual damage to the surface of the propeller blades. This damage happens because microscopic air bubbles are collapsing against the surface of the blade. Too much activity of this sort is not good for the physical condition of a propeller blade.
Causes of Excessive Cavitation
There are several reasons why excessive cavitation may occur. One common cause of the problem is a mismatch between the style of propeller installed and the intended use of the watercraft. If the blade edges of a propeller are already damaged, this can lead to the cavitation levels that are much higher than normal. A third common cause is a propeller with the wrong pitch installed on a motor boat.
To avoid cavitation, be sure to install an outboard boat propeller that is appropriate for the boat and that matches all relevant specifications for the motor.
Understanding Pitch and Slip
Pitch is becoming an increasingly familiar term to boating enthusiasts interested in purchasing aftermarket outboard propellers for their watercraft. Usually defined as the distance a propeller will move through a soft medium such a balsa wood after one full turn of the blades, pitch is an idealized figure that is rarely seen in actual use of outboard boat props.
Boaters, therefore, might question the purpose of a pitch specification for a given propeller. If the prop is advertised as offering 13 inches of pitch, but this is a theoretical number, what can a boater expect in terms of real world performance?
Fortunately, there is another term that helps to clear up this conundrum: slip. When it comes to outboard boat propellers, the word “slip” gives the difference between the theoretical and the actual. That is, slip describes the degree to which a given propeller usually achieves its stated pitch. A propeller that is properly installed and appropriate for both motor and boat can usually achieve as much as 90 percent of “perfect pitch,” though in some cases a figure closer to 80 percent is more realistic.
Why Not Just Scale Down Pitch Numbers?
The concept of slip usually raises a simple question: why do propeller manufacturers use idealized pitch numbers in the first place? Why not just multiply ideal pitch by 80 or 90% and use that figure as the pitch? The answer to this lies in the complexity of watercraft usage. Boats will achieve closer to their ideal pitch when conditions are optimal. Slip, therefore, depends on context whereas pitch values remain constant.
Propeller Terms: The Intricacies of Exhaust
Even an absolute newcomer to the sport of pleasure boating begins with a basic understanding of engine exhaust, but it may come as a surprise to some that outboard boat props actually have several ways of releasing or venting the exhaust produced by the motor. One of the most common arrangements is through “hub exhaust.” These propellers have blades attached to a hollow barrel through which exhaust can pass. This allows exhaust to avoid contacting the blades directly, which improves the way water flows onto the blades.
Another arrangement is “non-through hub exhaust.” As one might expect, in this system there are not any holes for exhaust near the shaft of the propeller. These systems are most commonly found on stern drive motors with low horsepower and on some low horsepower outboard motors.
Still other outboard propellers use a system known as “over the hub exhaust.” In this arrangement, blades are directly affixed to a small tube that runs near the propeller shaft. This eliminates a large exhaust tube. Over the hub exhaust systems are often employed when boating enthusiasts want to reach the maximum possible top speed of their motor.
The final system commonly employed is termed “over/through hub exhaust.” This is a combination arrangement that uses features from both the over-hub and through-hub systems.
Since outboard props can use a variety of exhaust systems, the boater determined to get superior performance should carefully consider which system would best suit his watercraft and his needs.
Why Boaters Choose Stainless Steel Propellers
Three excellent makes for stainless steel props are Apollo, Michigan Match, and Ballistic. All are manufactured to exacting specifications by the Michigan Wheel company, and meet the needs of a wide variety of boating situations. To understand why these stainless props are in such demand, consider the advantages that stainless steel propellers offer.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Props
Stainless steel is a metal that can be cast into thin, light shapes while retaining great strength and durability. This strength means that stainless propellers will maintain their shape and remain completely stiff even when subjected to considerable stress. Boaters find this an invaluable feature — after all, churning through water for hours at a time is an inherently stress-laden activity that can deform a propeller over time, causing, for example, blades to change their angle relative to the hub. When this happens, a replacement propeller may be called for — but stainless propellers are tough enough to withstand a great deal of use even in adverse conditions such as stormy weather and rough seas.
Another advantage of stainless steel is that it is non-corrosive by nature; hence, it does not need to be kept fully painted at all times. Since most boating enthusiasts live a busy lifestyle on and off the water, a prop that needs less maintenance is a definite advantage.
It is true that stainless steel is more expensive than some of the alternatives are, but the old saying of “you get what you pay for” is certainly true in this case.
Choices for Aluminum Propellers
Two very common metals used for casting boat propellers are stainless steel and aluminum, with aluminum being the most commonly used metal for this purpose. Boating enthusiasts are divided in their opinion of the two, with some strongly preferring aluminum props over any other kind. One major advantage of aluminum propellers is their affordability; boaters can often buy them for a fraction of what a stainless steel propeller in the same size range would cost. Aluminum propellers are also highly portable, in part because the nature of aluminum makes them lightweight. In addition, these propellers deliver high performance and are appropriate for a wide range of boating activities.
One caveat about aluminum props, however, is that they must be kept painted in order to keep corrosion at bay.
Michigan Wheel Aluminum Propellers
The Michigan Wheel company, a historically well-respected name in propeller manufacture, offers many different models of aluminum prop. They produce two major lines of such propellers: the Vortex and Michigan Match series.
Vortex propellers from Michigan Wheel feature XHS hub technology and incorporate features such as geometric blades that deliver high performance in part because they are precisely balanced for maximum efficiency in the water. They also look attractive, boasting a powder coat finish that will help to prevent corrosion from forming on the blades or hub. All Vortex props come with a limited lifetime warranty.
Michigan Match propellers feature a hub already pressed in, which means there is no need to purchase an additional hub kit. Michigan Match propellers are manufactured from high-level aluminum alloys that help the prop stay in excellent condition for many years.
Outboard Propeller Choices
When people think of boat motors, they generally think first of the outboard motors that power many ski and fishing boats. Propellers used on these motors are called outboard propellers or outboard props. Boating enthusiasts have several choices to select from when it comes to propellers for outboard motors.
Some of the more popular outboard propellers include Apollo propellers. These are manufactured out of stainless steel by the Michigan Wheel company, which has been making replacement boat propellers for over a century.
Ballistic Boat Props by Michigan Wheel
Another popular choice also manufactured by the same company is the Ballistic boat prop. These are made from stainless steel and are designed to shine with a high-gloss finish that resembles the surface of a mirror. The Ballistic prop line is engineered to have blades that are resistant to damage such as nicks along their edges; the blades also resist the tendency to bend. This means years of reliable service with specifications that will remain constant even when the prop has been in heavy use.
In addition, Ballistic props can withstand the harsh marine conditions without suffering the corrosion levels that less durable props will show. Innovative features of these props include the fact that engine RPMs can be lowered without performance being affected, which means that the engine delivers power more effectively.
Aluminum Outboard Propellers
The Michigan Wheel company also makes a Vortex line of propellers that feature blades made of aluminum. These propellers can offer cost savings over stainless steel props, but this must be weighed against the many advantages inherent to steel.