Stainless steel vs aluminum prop

The same engine equipped with a stainless steel prop in lieu of the factory rigged aluminum can immediately see a better hole shot and overall top end speeds even if both props are the same pitch. Go up one pitch depending how I use it because SS has no flex 3.

Whats the Difference Between Aluminum and Stainless Steel Props.

Stainless steel vs aluminum 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. Life Expectancy of Stainless Steel Props SS props have a much longer life expectancy. Theyre durable and stronger than aluminum props.

They also dont experience flexing. Since aluminum is softer than SS when its under load and rotating thousands of times a minute it loses its pitch. 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.

The aluminum prop will bend the blades when it hits rocks and perhaps save the extra damage that would be incurred with the stainless prop. On smaller engines and boats a stainless might get you 1 or 2 mph more speed I have been told as I researched how to get more out of my 75 hp 2-stroke back in 2002. I basically want to try to get more speed.

My stainless on my other boat gave me a little more at the same rpms. If running a 14 14 x 21 stainless performs the same as an aluminum counterpart Ill stay with the same dimensions. I just thought that you had to automatically go up or down one degree if going to stainless from aluminum.

Go down one pitch depending how it use it because SS has no flex 2. Go up one pitch depending how I use it because SS has no flex 3. If present RPMs are 5300 to 5500 stay with 17 pitch SS prop but if RPMs are higher then 5500 drop down one pitch I dont know my RPMs but will check it next time I am out with the boat.

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. There is no advantage to an aluminum prop.

Your boat will ride better plane faster have better fuel economy and better overall performance with a stainless. Both props come with a plastic hub made to break instead of your lower unit parts. Any boat with a 150 or larger should come with a stainless 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. Are Stainless Steel Propellers Worth the Money. 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.

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. 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.

Stainless steel is simply a more expensive material and it is more difficult to repair when damaged. These propellers weight twice as much as aluminum which means you need a more powerful engine. Ultimately the decision depends on use.

If you are not looking for power the aluminum prop may be the right choice. Aluminum props are the most common due to their affordability performance value and reliability in nearly any situation. Many boaters choose aluminum propellers over stainless steel because they weigh less and are much easier to repair when damaged.

This allows for the use of smaller engines further reducing costs. 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 stainless steel prop.

Our prop expert Andreas Kuppe explains the differences between aluminum and stainless steel propellers and how they can impact your boating experienceQues. Stainless steel propellers are more expensive but are far stronger and more durable than aluminum. The same engine equipped with a stainless steel prop in lieu of the factory rigged aluminum can immediately see a better hole shot and overall top end speeds even if both props are the same pitch.

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.