The propeller is a cast element consisting of a set of blades around a central hub and designed to transform an engine's rotary motion into propulsion. It usually has two to seven blades and a diameter ranging from a few centimeters to several meters on large ships.
All vessel propulsion systems other than hydrojets are equipped with a propeller. This includes drive shaft, pod and other configurations. There are propellers for every type of motor, from the tiniest outboard to those powering supertankers.
The rotating propeller creates a pressure differential between the forward and aft faces of the blades, sucking water toward itself and pushing it astern, driving the vessel by hydrodynamic thrust. Its primary characteristics are the diameter, the number of blades and their pitch, rake (angle fore or aft with respect to the hub) and cup, or tip curvature.
Some models have folding blades to reduce drag on sailboats. On variable-pitch versions, blade angle of attack changes with boat speed to optimize torque, increasing efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. Certain twin-screw vessels with powerful engines have propellers which rotate in opposite directions.
Choice of propeller will depend on motor type, power, rotational speed and gearing type and ratio. The central axis can be machined as a conical cavity for propeller shafts and outboards or as a crenelated cavity for pods and similar drives. Power transmission type and dimensions are the determining factors.
 |
 |
Surface piercing boat propeller (6 blades) ROLLA Twin Disc
Submerged Propellers are designed with a computer panel code method allowing the entire 3-D study and optimization of the geometry. To properly interface the propeller with its intended application the hull lines of any...
 |
 |
Boat propeller (3 blades) P3B (MAX. 10 KNTS), P3C MAX. 16 KNTS) VETUS
A propeller is possibly the most essential component of a motorboat and very important for sailing boats too. It requires a lot of attention, both by the naval architect and by the propeller manufacturer. "Specialists", who are able to tell you "off the cuff" what type of propeller your boat requires, simply do not exist. VETUS makes good use of an especially developed computer programme, which ensures...
 |
 |
Outboard and sterndrive propeller for boats (3 blades, aluminium) 01956-0909 Eval
The Rascal series (Aluminum) features increased blade...
 |
 |
Folding boat propeller (3 blades, shaft-drive or saildrive) Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta's 3 & 4-blade folding propellers are perfect for sailboats with minimal drag under sail combined with effective...
 |
 |
Pitch propeller for ships (custom-made, controllable) BCP Berg Propulsion
The BERG Controllable Pitch Propeller is developed for heavy-duty applications with a pitch setting hydraulic servo cylinder in the hub. The hub lubrication system is a unique oil circulating system...
 |
  |
Variable pitch propeller for ships (4 blades, adjustable) SCP CP Schottel
SCHOTTEL Controllable Pitch Propellers (SCP) are the appropriate solution when highest propulsive efficiency for changing speed or load are required and...
 |
 |
Trophy Plus The Trophy Plus has a four-blade steel design that provides incredible bow lift for bass and flats boats that run at high drive heights. Its...
 |
 |
Folding boat propeller (3 blades, shaft-drive or saildrive) ZINC ANODE Gori Propeller
"Overdrive" function The 3-blade Gori folding propeller's "overdrive" function adds a new dimension to sailing under power. The helmsman can choose the propeller pitch and profile in the water while sailing forward, by regulating the...
 |
 |
Variable pitch boat propeller (4 blades, adjustable) CPP ZF Marine
ZF-FPS specializes in custom designed, high quality propellers designed...
 |
 |
Pitch propeller for ships (custom-made, controllable) Wärtsilä Corporation
Wärtsilä Controllable Pitch Propellers offer excellent efficiency and manoeuvrability, and are recommended...
 |
 |
Outboard and sterndrive propeller for boats (4 blades, stainless steel) Suzuki Marine
Propeller Hardware...
 |
 |
Variable pitch boat propeller (2 blades, adjustable) CLASSIC 2 Max-Prop
The original two blade Max-Prop was designed in the early 70's for the high tech racing boats. Since proving itself in the racing arena, the two blade classic Max-Prop has...
 |
 |
Variable pitch boat propeller (4 blades, adjustable) HPV - CPP France Hélices
Easy fittings of the electric commands, combining best security and best flexibility (as the automatic pitch reduction in case of engine...
 |
 |
RUBEX L3 All-around Performance - Interchangeable with Flo-Torq & Vortex System - SOLAS High Performance / Rubber Hub - Three blade stainless steel propeller - Large diameter and blade area for big boat loads - Great high speed performance without sacrificing...
 |
 |
It's not just an average aluminum propeller - there is a reason the Black Diamond is the world's best-selling aftermarket propeller! No other...
 |
 |
Propeller for yachts and ships (custom-made) Kahlenberg Industries, Inc.
Kahlenberg began manufacturing marine propellers at the turn of the century. At that time, our propellers were supplied as an accessory item with engines of the same name. Naturally, the experience gained in the design and manufacture of propellers during the past 100 years is a priceless heritage passed on to our customers in the form of better propellers, correctly designed for superior strength...
 |
 |
Folding boat propeller (3 blades, shaft-drive or saildrive) Eliche Radice S.p.A.
Eliche Radice s.p.a has developed a new type of propeller which offers minimum resistance to forward motion while sailing and is highly efficient when under power. Starting with the traditional propeller with folding blades, a three blade model was developed which is a more efficient configuration...
 |
 |
Propeller for yachts and ships (custom-made) Schaffran Propeller + Service
SCHAFFRAN is designing and building ship shaft installations with fixed- and controllable pitch propellers for many decades. As our other products they are operated successfully all over the world on many motor- and sailing yachts, on marine and governmental vessels, on patrol boats as well as various special service crafts in offshore or research operation. Many merchant vessels and...
 |
 |
Stainless steel boat propeller (4 blades) PLEASURE FOUR Signature Propellers
The Signature Classic FOUR is one of Signature Propeller’s longest running propellers. First...
 |
 |
Propeller for ships MEGA4 Hawboldt Industries
MEGA 4: Designed with today's high horse powered, high speed work and crew boats in mind. Using high skew...
 |
 |
Folding propeller for racing sailboat (2 blades) Darglow Engineering Ltd.
Folding propellers have come a long way since they were first used as long ago as the 1920's! Darglow manufactured thousands of 2-bladed folding propellers in the 1970's and 80's and these were among the earliest reliable...
 |
 |
To round-up the optimised solution for your ships movement the best steering-gear combination needs to be mounted. Not only the load-capacity of the ship is important, however the most efficient way to travel make...
 |
 |
Folding propeller for racing sailboat (2 blades) MARK III ELIPTEC Martec
Elegant. Sculpted. Powerful. Even more powerful performance. Our folding props deliver unparalleled performance, matching and bettering fixed two-blade props. Since1964 we have continually refined and upgraded the Martec folding prop. We have redefined the concept of low-drag sailboat propellers, creating a family of folding, feathering and fixed blade props....
 |
 |
Boat propeller (4 blades) O PROPELERIMA SCAM-Marine d.o.o.
Description Propeller or “screw” is the most common type of propulsion on ships. The propeller's construction is relatively simple, its durability exceeds the ship's durability, maintenance costs are very small, the price is relatively low, and efficiency relatively high. For all these reasons the largest number of vessels uses propeller for propulsion. Propeller...
 |
 |
Boat propeller (4 blades) TYPE F West Mekan
Fixed pitch propellers are used when the optimal propeller design is known or can be calculated. It is also assumed that the user does not require the same level...
 |
 |
Bronze boat propeller CJR Propulsion
Designed and tested using our bespoke software to provide the perfect propeller for any boat design, they are normally cast in Aluminium Bronze. From our highly accurate...
 |
 |
Boat propeller (2 blades) Stump-Jumper
The Stump-Jumper propeller is a top of the line performer for the backwater enthusiast. Bill's Engineering spent years designing, testing and perfecting the newest of mud motor propellers with a process which...
 |
 |
Variable pitch boat propeller (3 blades, controllable) AUTOPROP Bruntons Propellers
Autoprop is unique! This remarkable propeller can be found on thousands of sailing yachts the world over! Fitted to all the BT Challenge yachts, and tested in the most arduous conditions, Autoprops benefits for cruising yachts are unmatched by any other product. Considerably reduced drag can be expected from most feathering propellers but unlike ' the others' Autoprops exclusive...
 |
 |
Automatic feathering boat propeller (3 blades) S1 AUTOSTREAM Seahawk
The Autostream self-feathering propeller has evolved through 8 models since 1976. Many experienced sailors have told us they consider the Autostream propeller to be the...
 |
 |
Boat propeller (3 blades) Nissan Marine
Propellers have two basic dimensions; diameter & pitch. Diameter is the distance measured across the propeller hub line from the outer edge of the circle that is made by the propeller's blades during rotation. Pitch is the distance that a boat will travel if rotated one revolution without any slippage. When describing a propeller...
 |
 |
In-board speed boat propeller VEEMSTAR-C VEEM Propellers
The VEEMStar-C® is the latest in high speed propeller design for high speed vessels which has evolved from the highly successful VEEMStar design. The VEEMStar-C has been designed in conjunction with several of the worlds largest pleasure boat manufacturers, where the design...
 |
 |
Fishing boat propeller (bronze, 5 blades) Van Voorden Gieterij
Fuel is an important cost issue for the fishing industry. The price of fuel is very high and because of the fast development of the world economy, this will not decrease in the near future. Van...
 |
 |
Variable pitch sailboat propeller (3 blades, controllable, stainless steel) EWOL E-Cubed EWOL S.r.l.
E3 (E-cubed) is a propeller that features innovative technical solutions in its shell, which are combined with the use of materials and treatments so far only applied in advanced technology fields. These innovations guarantee an absolutely superior resistance to mechanical shocks and galvanic corrosion, by no means comparable to the performances...
 |
 |
Propeller for ships SSRP Servogear
Servogear has developed it's propeller design from medium-running to super-slow-running propellers This has been made possible by our propeller tunnel design. Advantages achieved: . Very low...
