How does it work?
Every aluminum propeller repair begins with sand blasting. From there, the propeller is placed on a CNC machined pitch block and pounded back to the original manufacturer's pitch (stamped on the propeller). The propeller is then welded and put back to the original diameter, ground to the correct shape and balanced. The final step is to finish and spray with an industrial primer and paint for long lasting wear.
Stainless Steel and Bronze propellers are put through a similar process, but are polished back to their original sheen rather than painted. Propellers over 20 inch diameter go through a much more extensive repair, starting with our state of the art True Prop Software. Extensively damaged props are straightened with our hydraulic straightening system from Propstarightener.com and then finished off with the True Prop software. The end result is a propeller that meets the ridged standards set by the National Marine Propeller Association.
Is the hydraulic straightening system better than using heat to reshape a prop?
Yes! Using heat brings the metal to a pliable state, allowing for repairs. However, using heat weakens the metal, making it more prone to future bending and damages. Midwest Boat and Prop does NOT use heat. The Prop Straightener Machine uses hydraulic to reshape your prop. This not only gives you a better repair, but also speeds up the process!
How much does a repair cost?
Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from one third to one half the cost of a new replacement propeller when you have your propeller repaired at our shop, making the choice of repair verses new an excellent choice!
What are the benefits of repairing vs buying new?
The main benefit of a repair is the cost savings but there is more to it than saving money. As a prop shop, we have the ability to make customized adjustments to improve the overall performance. Propeller tuning to match RPM's and improving acceleration on takeoff are just two reasons to trust the experts at Midwest Boat and Prop.
Are stainless propellers a better choice over aluminum?
The simple answer is yes. The reason is that aluminum propellers slip more stainless propellers. Propeller slip is the difference between the actual distance the prop travels forward though the water versus the distance it should theoretically travel based upon the propeller blades angle of attack. The theoretical travel is based upon the propeller’s pitch. When a stainless propeller is used, you can gain as much as 20 percent of that slip back which results in better performance across the power band.
Can my propeller be repaired?
If we feel we can return the propeller to the manufacturer’s specifications, we will perform the repair. If we determine that the repair cannot be done, we offer a full line of new propellers as well as hundreds of reconditioned propellers to replace the ones that cannot be repaired.