What are the important aspects of the dimensions of a propeller?
The pitch of the prop is the most important dimension. This usually determines the power and speed of the boat. Pitch is measured in inches and refers to the number of inches a prop would move through the water for every revolution. Of course, since water is a very fluid environment, there is always some percent of slippage involved. The diameter of a prop is usually a set dimension depending on the pitch and make. Most line of props will go down slightly in diameter and the pitch goes up. The reasoning behind this is that the lighter boats that can run higher pitch props don’t need quite the diameter as do the heavier boats. If a boat is using a 14 inch diameter prop, and a 14 1/4 inch prop is available in another brand, as long as the pitch is the same, the performance will probably not change.
