Overview
Main description
On the surface, choosing the correct propeller for a particular boat seems simple. But one factor affects another, which then affects another factor, leading many boaters to believe that propeller selection depends more on black magic than logic.
All the questions are answered in this complete reference, the first of its kind. This clear, easy-to-use handbook for all small boats is written not for Ph.D.s seeking the latest wrinkle in high-tech propeller design, but as a practical aid for the average mechanic, engineer, boatbuilder, fleet operator, serious yachtsman, or naval architect.
Table of contents
AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1. Power: Understanding Engine PerformanceChapter 2. Estimating Speed: Effects of Power, Weight, and Hull TypeChapter 3. Propeller Anatomy: Parts and DefinitionsChapter 4. Blade Characteristics: Blade Shape, Cavitation, Special Propellers, and Rules of ThumbChapter 5. Crouch's Propeller Method: The Empirical Method for Calculating Propellers Using SlipChapter 6. The Bp- Method: The Power Factor Method for Calculating PropellersChapter 7. Installation Considerations: Blade Clearances, Shafting, and Propeller WeightChapter 8. Tugs and Trawlers: High-Thrust, Variable-Loading, Controllable Pitch, and Ducted PropellersChapter 9. Sailboats, Outboards, and Go-Fast Wrinkles: Propellers for Special ApplicationsAppendix A. Measuring the Hull: Procedure for Determining DisplacementAppendix B. Measuring the Propeller: Procedure for Finding Diameter and PitchAppendix C. Shaft Taper and Coupling DimensionsAppendix D. Decimal ExponentsManufacturers and SuppliersBibliographyIndex
Author comments
Dave Gerr is a naval architect specializing in the design of yachts and commercial craft to 180 feet. He has worked on vessels ranging from 440-foot cruise ships to a 60-foot BOC racer, a 60-mph jet-drive runabout, a 7-knot, 25-foot cruising motor launch, 100-foot aluminum motoryachts, and an assortment of 40- and 50-foot auxiliaries and motorsailers.
Owner of his own design firm, Gerr is a graduate of Westlawn School of Yacht Design and has studied physics at New York University and industrial design at Pratt Institute. He has a particular fascination with the relationship between science and art, function and beauty, and finds in naval architecture a rewarding harmony among these.
Dave Gerr's articles on boat design have appeared in Cruising World, Ocean Navigator, SAIL, Yachting, and WoodenBoat. He is a contributing editor for Boatbuilder and Offshore magazines. He is the author of The Nature of Boats and The Elements of Boat Strength, both published by International Marine.
Back cover copy
- Why won't your engine reach its top rated RPMs?
- Why is your propeller shaft vibrating?
- Why doesn't your boat reach the top speed claimed by the manufacturer?
- Will more or less propeller pitch improve your boat's performance?
- Is a square wheel (pitch equals diameter) best?
- Is a folding prop best for your purposes?
- Should you choose a two-, three-, or four-bladed propeller?
All these questions and more are answered in this complete reference--the first of its kind.
"We have highly recommended the Propeller Handbook to our distributors and repair stations, and have multiple office copies that our sales people refer to."--Michigan Wheel Corporation
"This book will answer almost every propeller-related question you're likely to come across."--Ensign
"Without doubt the definitive reference for selecting, installing, and understanding boat propellers."--Royal Navy Sailing Association Journal
"This book is for everyone who has ever had to make a decision about a propeller: mechanics, boatbuilders, boat service yard owners, boat owners, as well as naval architects. Dave Gerr and International Marine made a complicated topic understandable and put it into a handbook that is easy to use."--WoodenBoat
