Boat Propellers - Custom Props - Boat Propeller Repairs - Prop Reconditioning
National Marine Propeller Association Certified
Technician
Located at Lake Fork, Texas
4288 N. FM 17
Alba, TX 75410
National Marine Propeller Association Certified
Technician
Located at Lake Fork, Texas
4288 N. FM 17
Alba, TX 75410
Monday 8am-4pm
Tuesday-Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 8am-12pm
Closed Sunday
VACATION
Sept. 1, thru Sept. 6, 2010
Nov. 3rd thru the 10, 2010 (for the NMPA convention).
Customer Comment:
"I'm in the boat repair
business and pride myself with the ability to set
a boat up correctly. However, there comes a point
where the boat needs more help to perform
correctly than just the boat being set up and
dialed in. Generally the only way to get that
little extra edge is to have your propeller
modified.
After re powering my Champion 203 with a Mercury
225 Pro XS, it was still not performing exactly as
it should. I tried eight or ten different props
and finally found which factory prop ran the best
overall.
I then sent the prop to Steve at Steve's Custom
Props. He immediately found that the one blade was
1/4 of a pitch off from the Factory! He then
customized the prop and put his magic touch to it.
All I can say is WOW. I got four to five more
miles per hour, the hole shot is the best it has
EVER been, and the midrange turning and handling
is completely different! The boat had good bow
lift before, but now it is incredible!
Having used many different Prop Shops over the
years. There was one thing that made Steve's work
stand apart. Most customers probably would not
even notice this, but when the prop came back, it
was polished and didn't have any grinding marks or
other blemishes that many of the other shops don't
take the time to correct. That impressed me as
much as the performance difference!
If you want one of the best in the business to
repair your prop, add more cup, or completely
customize your prop, Steve is the guy to call!
Michael Bristow
North Texas Fiberglass
What is a balanced and blueprinted prop?
How do I adjust the prop shaft engine height?
At Steve’s
Custom Props
balance and
blueprinting
is offered on
most bass boat
propellers,
including our
new et cut
choppers.
A balanced and
blueprinted
prop offers
better hole
shots and a
reduction in
vibrations, as
well as
increased fuel
economy and
enhanced top
end
performance.
Most new
propellers
manufactured
today are not
close enough
in pitch
tolerances,
nor are they
perfectly
balanced and
polished.
At Steve’s
Custom Props
your prop is
placed on a
pitch block
and all blades
are made to
fit exactly in
pitch and
rake, then
they are
checked for
accuracy on
the pitch
gauges. Then
the propeller
is perfectly
balanced, and
the leading
edges thinned
slightly for
increased
performance.
Then the
propeller is
finished in a
very high
polished
finish.
Prices vary
per
application,
give us a call
for a price
quote.
1.) Level the
boat. Place a
level under
the pad of the
boat. Adjust
the trailer
jack up or
down till boat
is level
2.) Level the
motor. Place
the level on
the
cavitations'
plate, and
trim the
engine down
till it's
level
3.) Measure
from the
ground to the
pad, Write the
measurement
down
4.) Measure
from the
ground to the
center of prop
shaft, Write
it down.
5.) Deduct the
two
measurements.
You want the
prop shaft 3
1/2" below the
pad of the
boat.
6.) Adjust the
jack plate up
or down,
paying close
attention the
water pressure
and max.
engine rpms.
7.) On lighter
hulls with low
water pickups,
running at a
neutral trim
angle is best.
To find the
neutral trim
angle, simple
turn the
ignition key
on when you
have set the
engine at
level. The
needle will be
pointing to a
neutral
position. If
needed mark
the trim gauge
for future
reference.
The propeller
is the final
link in a
boat's power
train. Its job
is to take the
torque created
by a marine
engine and
convert this
torque to
forward
movement. A
propeller is
designed to
control the
engine's RPM
and hold it at
wide open
throttle to
the
recommended
RPM range
specified by
the
manufacturer
of a motor.
The power
curve is the
RPM range
where the
motor is
developing its
maximum
horsepower and
efficiently.
If the motor
revs beyond
this point, it
is over
revving, and
if the motor
is not able to
reach this
point it is
loaded down,
which could
have damaging
effects in the
internal
components of
the engine, as
well as allow
the engine to
use fuel
excessively.
Either way,
this causes
poor
performance
and
unnecessary
wear and
strain of the
drive train.
Propeller
pitch is
speed, however
there are also
several other
factors which
allow a boat
to perform to
it's
potential.
Such as, pitch
progression,
rake, and
cupping. Also
the gear ratio
of the lower
unit is also
extremely
important to a
boats
potential for
speed.
Composite hubs
are engineered
to provide
fail safe
points. This
provides more
cushion when
shifting and
the hub is
engineered to
fail before
any drive
train damage
occurs.
Composite hubs
are field
replaceable.
Just knock out
the old sleeve
and put in a
new one. No
technical
skills or
tools are
needed.
Composite hubs
allow you to
limp home
after impact
and your drive
train has a
much better
chance of
survival
without any
internal
damage.
Composite hubs
are engineered
to withstand
high
temperatures
and will not
degrade when
exposed to
high exhaust
temperatures,
this is a
common problem
with rubber
hubs on high
horsepower
engines.
Composite hub
propellers are
extremely
versatile.
Replacements
are made for
all engine
types. By
simply
replacing the
thrust washer
and driver
adapter, you
can install
the same
propeller on
virtually any
engine.
Rubber hub
propellers are
limited to one
specific
application.
Replacements
for rubber
hubs are much
more expensive
than the
composite hub
systems and
must be
installed by a
professional.
We carry a
full line of
replacement
hub
components.
Pad
shape and
design have a
lot to do with
how a boat
chine walks.
But remember,
pad shape and
design also
have a lot to
do with how
fast a boat
runs.
The more V a
pad has, the
faster it
usually is
because there
is less boat
in the water
and thus less
surface
friction. With
that in mind,
it's also
easier for the
torque of the
prop to roll
the boat off
the dead
center of the
pad and start
the chine
walking
process.
We often hear
the term,
"Drive the
Boat" with
regard to
chine walking
without much
explanation as
to what that
is.
This is not
gospel, but
it's what I
think of when
I hear the
term "Drive
the Boat".
There is a
balance
between motor
height with
the jackplate,
trim of the
motor, and how
the driver
handles the
steering
wheel.
Steering to me
is one of the
big tricks.
You will start
to learn your
boat and its
setup and as
you learn you
will know when
the boat is
about to start
chine walking.
As you see in
the diagram,
the rotation
of the prop
pulls the boat
to the right,
the key with
steering is to
counter the
rotation with
small steering
wheel twitches
to the left
before the
chine walking
starts. All of
these things
together are
kind of like
riding a
wheelie on a
bike.
(Click on the
illustration
shown above to
enlarge)
At Steve’s
Custom Props,
propellers are
modified to
perform in
rpm’s, for
what the
customer is
attempting to
obtain.
Pitch changes
and or
progression
changes are
made to obtain
exact top end
rpm’s per
application.
Rake angles
can also be
changed to
obtain higher
bow lift.
Leading edges
can be
modified for
better hole
shots.
Blade
sharpening can
also be done
to help with
an increase in
rpms and
higher top end
mph.
All blades are
matched
exactly in
pitch,
progression,
and rake
angles.
All blades are
highly
polished after
they are
balanced to
perfection.
Exhaust ports
can be
expanded or
welded to
obtain the
correct amount
of exhaust
ventilation
per
application.
See custom
worksheet for
information
needed to have
your prop
“customized”
Call for
pricing:
903-765-9000
Click
here
for
work
sheet
Simply
print
the
page
and
fill
in
the
requested info
and
bring
it
into
the shop
or
mail
it
to
Steve:
Steve's
Custom
Props
4288 N. FM 17
Alba, TX 75410
Steve
will
contact
you
with
the
details
for
your
prop
including
pricing.
