Choices for Yamaha Propellers
Michigan Match Yamaha boat propellers come in a variety of diameters and pitches, but in other ways, this propeller line is uniform. For example, all Michigan Match Yamaha Boat Props are made of aluminum. They also all have three blades and adhere to right-handed rotation.
Ballistic Yamaha boat propellers, in contrast, are available in stainless steel instead of aluminum and offer boating enthusiasts the choice of either 3 or 4 blades – though in the Ballistic line, there are many more 3-bladed than 4-bladed options. In addition, the Ballistic line does offer an occasional propeller with left-handed rotation; the majority of options have right-handed rotation.
Vortex aluminum Yamaha props all offer right-handed rotation. Again, most are 3-bladed but some 4-bladed options are available. Diameters in this line range from 10″ up to 15 ¼” and a wide variety of pitches are available, resulting in many different permutations so that boaters can choose the propeller most likely to yield the performance results they desire.
For example, the Vortex 992003 propeller has a diameter of 15″, very nearly the maximum in this line, and offers a pitch value of 17″. It has three blades and uses right-handed rotation. This propeller will work with a large variety of engines, from a 200 HP Thru Hub Exhaust first produced in 1976 to a 300 HP E-Tec engine still in production today.
With such a diverse collection of propellers that will work with Yamaha outboard engines, boaters can truly customize their watercraft to make their boating experiences all the more enjoyable.
Warning Signs: When You Need a New Propeller
Experienced boating enthusiasts know to check the physical condition of their boat, motor, and propeller on a regular basis – and they know how to recognize the warning signs that indicate it is time to look for a new propeller. Boaters may need to buy new Yamaha outboard propellers to replace their existing ones when they see, for example, evidence of cracking across any of the blades in their current propeller solution. Other warning signs include bent blades or blades whose surface edges show signs of wear. These usually show up as tiny missing pieces along the edge.
It may also be time to look into Yamaha outboard propellers of you notice a new source of vibration in your boat. Propellers that are damaged can cause such vibrations, as can propellers that have been improperly repaired. Another warning sign is that the propeller cavitates a great deal while under a load, or if you notice it slipping excessively. While some cavitation and / or slip is to be expected due to factors such as driver error or the motor design, a great deal of either should not be tolerated. Quite often, a better aftermarket propeller match can solve the problem.
A poor match of propeller can cause other kinds of performance issues. For example, if the motor on your boat runs without issues, yet you cannot get it to achieve the RPM claimed by the manufacturer, the propeller may be the issue. In this case, running the wrong propeller will mean wasting precious fuel.
Terms Used to Describe Boat Propellers
Boating enthusiasts who go shopping for Yamaha boat propellers will quickly realize that like all sporting activities, boating has a vocabulary all its own. Nowhere is this truer than in the field of aftermarket propellers, where terms such as “diameter,” “pitch,” and “rake” are used all the time, in many cases without explanation. Use this brief guide to help you gain a better understanding of propeller design terminology.
Diameter
This word means what novice boaters may expect: it describes the distance across the propeller. Diameter is calculated by measuring from the furthest edge of a blade to the middle of the central hub, and then multiplying that figure by two.
It is not universally true that “bigger is better” when it comes to propeller diameter. Larger Yamaha propellers will require more fuel consumption and some boats can only accommodate a smaller propeller.
Pitch
The meaning of this term is less obvious to the novice. Pitch refers to the distance that the propeller moves each time it makes a complete revolution. The force of water spinning through it will cause it to move back (or forward, depending on your point of view) a certain linear distance. The more pitch a propeller has, the more it will move every time the blades revolve 360 degrees.
Rake
Rake on Yamaha props refers to the angle that the blade sits at compared to the hub. Zero degrees of rake would mean that the propellers sit at a perpendicular angle.