December 27, 2006
Selecting the Proper Prop (Props 102)
Now that we have the basic anatomy of the prop covered, let’s look at how we can go about insuring that the optimal prop for your boat is installed. Getting the right prop on your boat is very much a process of trial an error. The best place to start is to look at what you have on your boat now. When your boat is at wide open or wide open throttle (WOT) what is the maximum RPM? Does this RPM fall between the manufacturer’s recommended range? If it does then you most likely have the best prop for your boat – if not, there’s work to be done. The goal when selecting the optimal prop is to have your maximum RPM for the engine fall between the range given by the manufacturer. The higher the RPMs you have within the range, the higher speeds you will most likely reach. Having the correct prop will deliver maximum speed and optimal... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2006
Round and Round - PROPS 101
I’m sure we can all agree that a Prop is a fairly integral part of the boating experience, but if you’re like me you don’t give them a whole lot of thought – they spin and make the boat move – good enough. All joking aside – there’s actually quite a bit to them and they’re more important than you might think. The prop is a critical element and having the properly (no pun intended) sized prop on your boat is key to performance and engine longevity. Folks have asked some great questions recently regarding how to select the right prop for their RIB, so I thought we’d look into it together. Before we can even talk about selecting the right prop, I think it would be helpful to explore the anatomy of the prop, something that I like to call “Props 101”. So here are the basics. Like people, propellers are either left or right handed. Left handed props... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 03:52 PM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2006
The Birth of RIBs
There was a comment to one of my postings from a month or so ago that raised the question of who was the first to dream up the concept of a RIB. I thought it was an excellent comment, so, where did the RIB come from? Its origins date back to around the turn of the 20th Century. To talk about the birth of RIBs, one has to discuss the advent of inflatable boats. In large part, we have the Titanic to thank for our boats. With the loss of life of the Titanic in 1912 and the considerable losses experienced to US ships during World War I, the need for a solution was clear. After this, an international agreement was signed to provide safeguards for passenger safety aboard ships; creating the first SOLAS treaty. One of its major provisions was to ensure that every vessel had enough lifeboats to provide every person aboard the ship with a place. This... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
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