20
Sep
One of the benefits of aluminum propellers is their low cost. There is a LOT more to choosing the right prop lot of variables.
Our prop expert Andreas Kuppe explains the differences between aluminum and stainless steel propellers and how they can impact your boating experienceQues.
Aluminum vs stainless steel prop. Stainless-steel propellers tend to be stronger than aluminum propellers. They are more resistant to corrosion in saltwater and are less likely to sustain impact damage. Because of how thick the blades are the aluminum must be very bulky and thick to maintain its shape so it doesnt stretch or flew.
A stainless steel prop will give your boat better fuel economy performance and is more durable than an aluminum prop. The disadvantage to SS props is their price. An aluminum prop is much cheaper but is weaker and tends to flex under pressure causing the pitch to change.
Whats the Difference Between Aluminum and Stainless Steel Props. The biggest differences between the two are the weight and the stiffness of the prop and thats where the horsepower comes in. A good rule of thumb is that if your outboard pushes 150 horsepower or less aluminum might be the best option.
A stainless steel prop is more durable. If youre often in water where your propeller may encounter an obstacle a stainless steel propeller will be more resistant to damage than an aluminum one. One of the benefits of aluminum propellers is their low cost.
They arent as durable but they will do the job with a smaller horsepower engine. STAINLESS-STEEL PROPELLER PRO Stainless props provide better performance because their blades flex less. In fact its quite common for a stainless-steel propeller all other things being equal to out-perform an aluminum propeller by as much as five MPH at top-end and two to three MPH at cruising speeds.
You can almost guarantee that for every single steel prop sold there are 10 aluminum props. In saltwater stainless steel is king but you can say that is due to the bigger horsepower that you see. Aluminum Props come in all the standard styles from 3 to 4 blade props.
Different sizes are available from 25 hp outboard motors to 150 hp. The most common understanding of the difference is that stainless steel propellers perform better than aluminum propellers. This is only half true.
Material Stainless vs Aluminum only accounts for approximately 10 of the actual performance of the propeller. The other 90 of performance is in the blade design. I am presently running a aluminum 17 pitch prop on my 2004 115 classic Mercury pushing a 19 foot Princecraft Deckboat low 40s MPH.
I am very happy with the performance but am considering going to a Stainless Steel prop. I called three different dealers and got three different answers on what pitch they recommend on the SS prop. Stainless steel propellers provide better mileage than aluminum propellers possibly more than a composite depending on blade foil design.
The stainless steel propeller provides more speed but in this horsepowersizeRPM range only 2 3 MPH more. Stainless is tougher no doubt about it. Switching from aluminum to stainless steel prop Manufacturers suggested WOT is 4500-4800 rpm.
I have never ran open throttle fearing Id damage an engine. Ive only had up to 3500 rmp max. Ive only put about 13 hours on the engines since Ive had the boat one season.
Michigan Wheel is what is on it now. While aluminum is a great choice it can flex under extremely high rpms and this will cause a drop in pitch. The blades often tend to be thicker than stainless steel blades so they will cause more drag.
They are not ideal for sandy conditions so you must consider use. The Benefits of Stainless Steel Propellers. Stainless steel propellers are designed for high performance and they are the most.
It is not surprising that a stainless steel prop lifts the bow more than an alu and a stainless steel needs a higher mounting position than an alu can take to perform at its best. Propeller questions come in all the time - which type is better aluminum or stainless. The truth is each have their strengths and weaknesses and in certain.
An aluminum prop will run just fine but there will be flex in the blades. A stainless will hold its pitch no matter the speed. A good combo is a 19 pitch Tempest Plus.
The properties of stainless steel result in a propeller that offers more performance and more durability than an aluminum prop. Stainless steel has five times more stress tolerance than aluminum which means the blades of a stainless steel prop can be much thinner than those of even a Mercalloy aluminum prop. Aluminum Prop vs.
Stainless Steel Prop 03-28-2017 0919 AM. I recently purchased a Robalo R180 Center Console with a Yamaha 115. The prop that came with the engine is aluminum.
Is there any advantage or disadvantage with upgrading to a. Our prop expert Andreas Kuppe explains the differences between aluminum and stainless steel propellers and how they can impact your boating experienceQues. The main downside of stainless steel props is the price.
Stainless steel is a more expensive material than aluminum. A stainless steel prop can be twice as much or more than the price of an aluminum prop. Repairing stainless steel is more expensive.
Stainless steel props weigh twice as much as aluminum so you need a more powerful engine. Ive taken it out in saltwater many times since we bought it new. My problem is even after a long freshwater rinse and detailing I still find corrosion in the hub of the aluminum prop.
My question is do stainless steel props have this issue and is it worth the cost to upgrade. Otherwise the aluminum prop is in great condition. Material Stainless vs Aluminum only accounts for approximately 10 of the actual performance of the propeller.
The other 90 of performance is in the blade design. Well designed aluminum propellers will out perform an average stainless steel propeller. So its important to research a propellers performance before your purchase.
As for a conversion calculation between aluminum and stainless there is not one. There is a LOT more to choosing the right prop lot of variables. I could give you two props that are the same material diameter and pitch but they could be 1000 RPM different from each other and perform completely different.
The properties of stainless steel result in a propeller that offers more performance and more durability than an aluminum prop. Stainless steel has five times more stress tolerance than aluminum which means the blades of a stainless steel prop can be much thinner than those of even a Mercalloy aluminum prop.