Propeller Work Is About More Than Shiny Blades
Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2019
There are a lot of ways a day out on the water on your boat can be unexpectedly ruined. Damaging your prop is just one of the ways, but it’s a big one when it happens. If you run aground, hit something in the water, are in need of some repairs from customary usage, or if your prop wasn’t setup right, you’ll want a reputable propeller repair shop that’s a member of the National Marine Propeller Association to handle the job.
The National Marine Propeller Association provides training and support in product and technical knowledge and promotes ethical business conduct between its members and the boating community. It is also a nurturing and growth-oriented association, which encourages our members to be highly productive and to grow personally and professionally.
NMPA members have made the pledge to represent high professional standards of service and repair of boat propellers. They are actively engaged in education and, through their association, members stay current on the latest technical information available on tools, techniques, products, and services in the field of propeller repair and new propeller manufacturing. Additionally, there are members of the association who have completed testing and are NMPA Certified in the repair of aluminum and stainless steel props.
Propeller repair requires more than simply returning the aluminum, stainless, bronze, or nibral wheel (another term for propeller) to a nice, shiny finish. The determination of whether the prop can or should be repaired is a critical skill. Knowing if the propeller was properly sized for the vessel and motor - so the rpms and power ratios are correct - is another. Understanding blades, pitch, cupping, measurement, and scanning tools that help ensure tolerances, metals, and welding are all critical skills you should expect your propeller repair professional to have.
You will want the expertise and advice of a specialist when you need a propeller repaired, and you can find NMPA members by visiting the association’s website at www.nmpa.net and searching the directory for a shop near you. The best chance of fixing - or eliminating - one of those ways that things can go wrong is by consulting a propeller repair professional who is a member of the NMPA to properly size or repair your propeller when the time comes.
tags: Boating 101, Propellers, Service & Repair
