WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER CHANGING A PROPELLER?

From the desktop of

Emilio Zavala

To know when you should change a propeller, you must consider several elements, but the most important is its age. There can be many reasons that may lead you to decide to change it, so let us show you some of the most common reasons.


Through the course of time, the propeller’s materials can gradually lose their mechanical quality; this is due to the constant effort of its blades while they are in use. You could consider fixing it, but sometimes the joint cannot be soldered properly because the blade’s material is damaged.

A propeller can wear down due to friction and corrosion too, when it comes into contact with sea water, causing inefficiency in its operation. This could cause the thinning of blades, also lowering their functionality, which eventually results in folded tips.

In case the propeller gets hit while in operation, the extent of the damage occurs depending on the materials it was made of, resulting in just a fold or a detachment of a blade section. Sometimes a strap from the same ship can cause damage to the propeller, and it can also affect the power transmission system.




Even when a propeller isn’t corroded, it can still present cavitation problems that affect the hydrodynamic profile of the propeller, which can be corrected by changing its diameter.



Finally, you must consider the option of repair depending on the damage; sometimes it is preferable make a new one instead of having difficulties with a repaired propeller.



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