Your prop is arguably one of the most important parts of your engine. However as with many things, if it is not used properly your propeller can potentially present danger. To wrap up my series on propellers, here are a few important safety tips to keep in mind:

1. Your propeller should be inspected on an annual basis, every 100 hours, and after any impact strike. Issues that require further attention should be dealt with immediately.

2. Avoid operating the boat in areas where loose clothing, debris, fishing line or nets are located. This presents a danger if someone were to become entangled in the prop and pulled towards it.

3. Kill switch lanyards and wireless versions such as Autotether, are designed to help prevent propeller strikes, so as usual I will stress the importance of always wearing one!

4. Avoid operating the prop in conditions that may cause damage such as mud, surface penetrating operation or other entanglements. This may cause stress on the prop prematurely. If these conditions cannot be avoided, operate the engine with extreme care as catastrophic failure or disintegration could occur.

Posted by ribcraftusa at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Freedom to Choose Promotion is making right now a great time to purchase a new RIBCRAFT! If you haven’t already heard…all customers who purchase a RIBCRAFT (19’ or greater) by December 31st will receive a 4% bonus credit based on the total sales price. It is up to you how the credit is applied!

Customers who have taken advantage of this promotion have told us that they love the ability to choose how the credit is applied. Each has chosen to use the credit in a slightly different way.

Although the end of the year is almost here, there is still time left to take advantage of this opportunity. Click here or contact us to learn more!

Posted by ribcraftusa at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the first segment of my propeller series I provided some tips on maintenance. Now in the second installment, we are going to look at different types of prop damage and I’ll give my opinion on whether or not they are signaling that its time for a new prop.

1. The internal hub is blown out. This is usually is caused by hard shifting between forward and reverse or by continually applying a heavy throttle. The operator will notice that the speed has maxed out, but RPMs keep increasing. In this instance it’s time for a new prop.
2. The blades are chewed up. This was likely caused by hitting rocks or hitting the bottom over time. The general indicators for this type of damage are vibrations that can be felt while running along with hindered performance and in this scenario a new prop is recommended.
3. Paint is missing near the hub. In this case your prop is fine to continue using. It is possible for paint to come off in this general area of an aluminum prop due to normal flexing.
4. A hairline crack is present. There is no one cause of a hairline crack that can be easily pinpointed. Most times the operator will notice a drop in performance and eventually the prop will fail all together. It is recommended that once a decrease in performance is noticed, the prop be examined and if a hairline is found, it be replaced.
5. Paint is missing on the edge of the blades. If a boat is beached frequently, sand will cause wear around edges of an aluminum prop. Lack of paint in this instance is nothing to worry about and the prop can continue to be used. However, I recommend keeping an eye on it to be sure that only light rubbing is taking place.

Posted by ribcraftusa at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)