Finding the Best Propeller for Your Boat
A boat propeller is the link between a motor and the water. No matter how awesome and powerful the motor, without an appropriate propeller from Yamaha, it won't do anything. The side effect of this relationship is that in order to get peak performance out of your motor, you need the right propeller.
Of course, multiple things affect the ability of a motor to perform—from the size of your boat to how much weight is on the boat. The balance of all of these issues will help you pick a propeller that you'll be pleased with.
The Pitch
The pitch is a measurement of how far your boat goes with a single revolution of the propeller. Ok, it can be a bit more complicated than that, but that's the easy way to look at it. Considering pitch is important because the wrong pitch can cause one of two problems:
- The pitch is too much for the motor
Too much pitch creates a heavier drag on the motor than it can keep up with.
- The pitch isn't enough for the motor
Conversely, too little pitch will have your motor unable to take advantage of the power your motor is producing.
Obviously, neither of those two outcomes is ideal.
The Wide Open Throttle (WOT)
You want your boat to be able to reach the high end of your boat's WOT range. Whatever the WOT, you want stainless steel boat props that will easily get you there. Say your WOT range is 5,000 to 5,500 RPMs. You'll want to be able to get there with an open throttle without going over. Since weight can affect performance, know your typical weight (including passengers, supplies, fuel, etc).
Use Your Current Propeller as a Baseline
Assuming you have a working propeller, take your boat out and see how she performs. If it provides good performance, just take those details and find stainless steel propellers from Yamaha with the same specifications. If not, take those specs and tweak them as needed to get in the ballpark for a new propeller.
When in Doubt, Test it Out!
If you have the option, your best bet will always be to test a propeller before buying. Unfortunately this isn’t always possible, but if the opportunity presents itself, takes full advantage. If you're unable to test before purchase, see if the return policy will allow you to return the propeller after its been used on the boat.
So Which is the Best Prop for My Boat?
If you're still having trouble deciding on Yamaha stainless steel propellers, a salesperson can help you figure out the details. Providing the details on your boat and motor will help them point you to a propeller that will best take advantage of what stainless steel propellers will work for you.
