posted 06-16-2004 02:50 PM ET (US)            

I am hoping this weekend to log the performance with the GPS and fuel flow information. I will post the results.

Rich

posted 06-17-2004 03:01 PM ET (US)         

Why pay more for the aftermarket copycat when you can get the real thing for less.

I note they are also now licensing Mercury's patented interchangeable hub kits, as does Michigan Wheel.

posted 06-18-2004 08:58 AM ET (US)            

This difference between nominal and actual pitch becomes evident when you plug performance data into the propeller calculator and the calculated slip results at WOT are very close to zero or in some cases negative in value. Normal and expected slip results at WOT are 6 to 10 percent. Lowering the pitch value by one inch on a PowerTech propeller in the propeller calculator usually puts the calculated slip into the expected 6 to 10 percent range.

posted 06-19-2004 10:47 AM ET (US)            

Price was $30 less for the PowerTech. The manufacturers suggested retail price for the two props were pretty close.

After running this propeller for a while I do want to test a Mirage and a Rev4 and compare the three. I'm also going to run my old LaserII and see how she goes.

I do like the Flo torque hub system as compared with the one on my PowerTech. It would be nice to be able to just replace the hub yourself, on the water if need be, as opposed to having to bring it to a repair shop if a hub is spun.

The PowerTech is a 16 pitch and RPMs are dead on at 5800. The Mirage propeller that would more than likely run at 5800 RPMs is the 17 pitch. So what you say Peter regarding pitch comparisons sounds correct based on the pitch recommended to me by PowerTech.

I have really learned alot from you guys about propellers and I appreciate all of your input. I'll certainly post the numbers.

posted 06-19-2004 01:08 PM ET (US)            

Larry, I was under the assumption that 4 blade props, with their large surface area are better for hole shot and holding qualities. You say that the Revolution 4 provided better top end also? Those slip numbers are impressive. What is the rule of thumb for pitch when changing from a 3 blade to a 4 blade prop?

Peter, I am hoping that your theory about actual pitch is true in my case. The PowerTech propeller that was given to me is a 13.25 X 15. In my past sea trials, a 15 pitch propeller has brought me a little over red line and a 17 pitch has not been able to give me the hole shot I need and is a couple hondred rpm under max. I will try out the PowerTech on Tuesday and see how it works.

posted 07-12-2009 06:31 PM ET (US)            

About a month ago, I purchased a Nautic Star 2200 Nautic Bay with a 200hp Yamaha Four Stroke. It came with a PowerTech Propeller CLY200OFS3R19. This is a 3 blade, 15.25" diameter x 19 Pitch Stainless Steel Propeller.

After breaking in the engine, I was really able to test the propeller and I found it did not provide a very good holeshot, could not keep the boat on plane at 3500 RPM (suggested cruising speed), ventilated on turns and allowed the engine to operate at a WOT of 6200 RPM, which is 200 RPM over Yamaha's recommend WOT.

When I complained of these problems to the service manager of the dealership where I bought the boat, he wanted to move me up to a 21 Pitch Prop. I advised him that I had enough experience to know this would not solve my issues. Reduce the WOT RPM, yes, but not solve my problems. So, I took matters into my own hands and contacted PowerTech.

Not only did the technician give me a recommendation on the phone, but he said if I would have the dealer call him, he would have a new 4 Blade propeller shipped overnight and if I didn't like the improvements, there would be no charge. Well, you know my next phone call was to the dealer and he in fact had the four-blad PowerTech propeller CLY200OFS4R19 installed for me the next day. This is exactly the same propeller as my original, but with a fourth blade.

The difference in handling and performance was like night and day! Acceleration form a standing start, planing, cornering, and everything else was drastically improved, all by adding a fourth blade. And yes, my WOT was reduced 200 RPM, which put me right on 6,000, exactly as the PowerTech technician had advised. I did loose 1.5 MPH (GPS) on the top end, but that was likely because of the 200 RPM reduction in engine speed, not the four-blade propeller.

This seemingly small change in propellers made an already great boat and motor combination into an absolute dream. I can't say enough about how great it is to call a company and not only get a real person to speak with, but a person who is both knowledgable and helpful.

posted 07-13-2009 08:35 AM ET (US)            

http://www.ptprop.com/images/stories/docs/hub_guide.pdf

it appears they have a product using a universal square plastic hub insert they call the Quadra Hub System or QHS. The QHS does look nearly identical to the Mercury square plastic universal hub or FLO-TORQ system. No mention is made of licensing, so I believe that this is just an inference drawn from the similarity of the components.

It is not unusual for one company to license a product from another and then re-brand it. For example, Mercury themselves does this with the patented Orbital Combustion Process. They license it from Orbital, re-brand it as OptiMax, and never mention the licensing in their literature.

PowerTech also has a new product called CushionLok which is apparently their own design and for which their literature notes a patent is pending. The CushionLok hub appears to a flexible coupling designed to take some of the CLUNK out of shifting on larger and heavier propellers.

posted 07-14-2009 10:28 AM ET (US)            

They also offer hub systems on their large props in several different configurations, which is remarkable.

- They offer standard press-in rubber hubs like most propellers used to use.

- They offer the square bore Flo-Torq type props.

- They offer their offer Cushion-Lok hub system which uses pliable rods that surround the hub to offer a cushioning effect. These hubs are user removable and different numbers of rods can be used as well as rods with different hardness to allow the amount of cushioning to be fine-tuned.

The use of these three hub systems mean that a single model of prop that can be bought with them must be cast from three different molds. That means there are effectively three times as many propeller castings being offered. I do not know how they do that as a business.

posted 08-19-2009 03:01 PM ET (US)            

This is Marcus Clements, Marketing Manager with PowerTech! Propellers. I have to say that, not only, am I humbled by your praise, but I am completely blown away by your knowledge about our products. My compliments, my friends.

Just to let you know, I have chatted with Jim in the past and I do check out your forum, from time to time, just to keep a finger on the pulse, so to speak. Along with all my other duties at PowerTech!, I am the webmaster, so I am always checking to see where our web traffic originates. In this case, we were getting a number of hits from CW, and I thought I would check out the thread.

In the interest of full disclosure…not long ago, Jim and I discussed a bit about propeller theory and, also, about my participating on your forum. Out of respect for the unbiased, non-commercial nature of your forum, and for the fact that I'm already stretched pretty thin, I have elected to remain an observer, rather than become a regular poster. In this case, I just couldn't resist, and do hope that you boys and girls don't mind.

In order to answer some of your previous questions and speculation, I thought I'd put a finer point on some of the facts you folks have already discussed. PowerTech! Propellers is a 24-year-old propeller manufacturer, based right here in Shreveport, Louisiana and owned by my good friend and boss, Steve Powers. We control every aspect of the design and manufacture of propellers. We design them in CAD, we pour them in wax, we pour them in steel, and we own our own foundry; in short, we do it all. This is one reason why we are so much faster to market than most other manufacturers, and why we cater to so many niche boating markets. We control our own destiny. While, for years, we only built propellers in stainless steel, in the last 5 years, we have added an OEM compatible line of aluminum propellers, as well.

As Tom mentioned, we offer the largest range of stainless steel propellers in the industry. With over 5000 part numbers in stainless steel alone, we have a VERY large tool box, so we can address almost any performance issue a customer might have. Of course, the largest tool chest in the industry won't do you much good if you don't know how to use it. To that end, as Reelist pointed out, we offer techincal support that is unique in the industry. Through our website worksheets, E-mails, and phone calls, we answer questions from boaters from around the world, every day..."I have this kind of boat, this kind of motor, this prop, this problem, so what prop do I need?" It may be a bass boat in Tennessee, a flats'n'bay in Florida, an offshore in the Australia, a R.I.B in Croatia, or whathaveyou, you just never know. It is a bath of fire, to be sure, and a bit like a game show, actually ;-), but we believe that this two-way conversation is necessary to get that customer's boat propped to HIS/HER liking. In our opinion, since no two boats, no two motors, no two props, no two drivers, no two expectations are ever exactly alike, there are just too many variables for this analysis to be done properly with web-based wizards and calculators.

All that said, we know that propping boats can be a difficult proposition (pardon the pun). With that in mind, we offer our customers the opportunity for a performance exchange, or a return, should the prop not satisfy the customer's performance, through our 30-day pitch exchange. In the first 30 days, as long as the prop is like new with no dings, nicks, scratches, nor modifications, we will exchange (or return) the propeller for a propeller of equal value and different pitch for $49.95. That way, a customer can dial his/her rig in to his/her liking and is not stuck with a prop that does not work for him/her.

As for the available hub systems, we build propellers to match the three major hub systems on the market. We do this because we want to offer customers a choice. In the E-class line (150hp-350hp), for example, we offer traditional press-in-style rubber hubs, square hub cavities (Flo Torq and QHS compatible), and our premium, patented (patented for 5 years, or so) CushionLok hub system (a no charge option).

To expound on Jim's explanation, the CushionLok hub system was designed as a field-serviceable, modular hub unit that could withstand higher heat and torque loads than a standard press-in-style rubber hub, which it does beautifully. Along with this added durability, the cushioned movement of the hub affords maximum drivetrain protection, as well as, a much softer drive engagement (reduced clunk).

The heart of the system is the stainless steel CushionLok driver, the CushionLok rods and the accompanying CushionLok hub cavity within the propeller. Being modular, any CushionLok propeller can be made to fit different motors, simply by changing to the appropriate CushionLok driver and hardware. Since it is a field-serviceable unit, a swap, or a rehub, can be performed by the customer without need of a press. The rod set consists of fourteen rods that are about the size of glue sticks. Eight of them are made of Delrin and act as shear pins, while the remaining six buna rods act as cushioning elements. As Jim rightly pointed out, the CushionLok propeller and hub are unique to one another, meaning that neither are compatible with any other hub system, or propeller.

Well, I hadn’t planned on this becoming a dissertation, guys, my apologies. I kept coming back to it, between phone calls and E-mails, and well, it’s kinda long-winded. DOH!! ;-) Oh, well. Sorry ‘bout that.

As for you, Tom, Perry, Reelist, Rich, and Fishgutz, thank you ever so much for joining the PowerTech! family, my friends. It’s good to have you with us.

I thank you ever so much for your kind words and for letting me say, “hello.” If I, or we, can be of service in any way, please, do not hesitate to give us a shout. We would be delighted to hear from you.

Have a teeeeeeeeeerrific rest-of-the-week, folks.

Marcus
One Half of the Hydrodynamic Duo ;-)